Orissa: Violence forcing Christian youths to militancy

If anti-Christian pogroms continue in Orissa, police fear Christian youths might turn to militancy to fight the government.

Although till today there has been no substantial evidence of Christians joining hands with militant groups, a top police officer in the state predicts, it might be imminent due to government's failure to render protection.

Chandrasekhar Pattnaik, a police officer with the intelligence branch, alleged that Christians might have joined or helped the Maoists in killing Laxmananda Saraswati in August.

He further said Maoists guerrillas hiding in jungles might have trained many Christian youths who are now against the government for failing to curb violence instigated by Hindu fundamentalists.

Over 50,000 were forced to flee after violence rocked the Kandhamal district August, last year. Dozens were murdered and thousands of Christian homes burnt down.

A police intelligence officer in Orissa says "those not satisfied with government action against Hindu militants were desperate to resort to violence against Hindus in revenge attacks and they were on the lookout for arms and explosives."

"If the Muslim and Christian terrorists unite in action, the outcome could be fatal and terrorism could spread to new areas of the country," the officer, who did not want to be identified, said.

President of Global Council for Indian Christians, Sajan K George says the silence and indifference of authorities in the state might be forcing youths to pick up militancy.

"However, we don't endorse this militancy because it is against the basic tenets of Christianity. Violence can never be fought successfully with violence.

"They are continuing the attack and we are still ready to forgive them," he said.

Cecil D' Francis, a church leader in Midnapur in West Bengal said, "denial of justice" had given birth to Christian militancy.

"In a desperate situation the Christian youths have picked up bombs and guns. But it does not bode well for these Christians in this Orissa region. This militancy, as it happens everywhere, will slow down the socio-economic development of these poorer people and throw them in many other miseries," Mr Francis said.