Hindu orphan raped and murdered in Orissa

Adding to the brutality of Hindutva fanatics, a Hindu orphan was raped and murdered after being misjudged to be a Christian.

In what has caused embarrassment to the Orissa government, a Christian priest claimed that Rajani Majhi, sheltered at the Bargarh relief camp, was gangraped and burnt alive by a mob at Padampur on Saturday.

"On August 25 at around 1.30 pm a mob entered the small orphanage and beat up Father Edward Sequiera. Thereafter they took the girl to a side room and gangraped her before burning her alive," said T V Peter, procurator, Sambalpur diocese. The local administration hurriedly cremated Rajani.

“The mob thought she was a Christian girl but actually she was a Hindu and had been adopted by a childless couple. She was working in the orphanage,” said Peter.

The priest alleged that police remained silent spectators instead of rescuing the victims.

Rajani was a student of the Padampur Women’s College. She financed her education by working in the orphanage meant for children of leprosy patients. The orphanage run by Jesuit priest Father Edward Secuira was set ablaze by the mob.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG north–western range) Y.B. Khurania said a probe has been ordered and witnesses will be questioned on the murder.

“We have come across the fresh allegation made by Peter. We have sent a police team to meet him to find if there is any other eyewitness account of the incident,” he said. “If anyone can give more insight into the case, they would be most welcome,” he added.

Last week, medical reports confirmed rape of a 28–year–old nun in Orissa's Kandhamal district. The nun was paraded naked and even doused with kerosene, as violence sparked by the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda, intensified attacks on the Christian community claiming dozens of lives and fleeing of thousands to forests.