Persecution Update: Kandhamal violence victims again stranded

Kandhamal Issue: Officials demolish and evict Christians from Govt. allotted houses

Orissa District authorities demolished houses of at least 36 Christian families that were under construction in Kandhamal, last week.

It is alleged that the authorities took the outmost step at the behest of Hindu radicals who accused the Christians of illegally acquiring the land.

Christians who were barbarously attacked by BJP/RSS groups, on December 2007, which led to the destruction of over 750 houses, saw a sign of relief when the government announced aid and rehabilitation measures, including the provision of land/houses.

However, last week, Orissa police along with the CRPF officials bulldozed the houses, leading to the eviction of families, who are scattered and unprotected due to the lack of relief camps in the area. Few of them have taken shelter in nearby schools and churches.

"The Christian families were sheltered from the heavy rains by just covering the open roof top by polythene and tenting as their houses are not yet constructed on the lands allotted to them by the Dist. Administration," reported GCIC.

"We are horrified by the inaction of the administration and the human rights violation that goes unnoticed. The government makes announcements and tall claims but the fact remains that the people of Kandhamal are still suffering the after–effects."

Although GCIC and the families of the victims approached the collector in hope of surceasing the demolition on compassionate grounds, the authorities showed no remorse.

Bible College women students abused and beaten

Women students from a Gospel for Asia Bible College (GFA) faced "humiliation and persecution" as they distributed Gospel tracts in Andhra Pradesh.

According to GFA’s press release, five women, all third–year Bible college students, while distributing tracts were confronted by radicals who snatched and tore the Christian resources. The radicals threatened the women and berated them with vulgar insults.

Furthermore, they gathered more people, who started beating the women, deeply humiliating them in public.

“Then one extremist took off his sandal and beat the women with it—not only hurting the women physically, but also causing humiliation,” adduced the report.

“As the men continued to beat the students, a Christian from the local church came to their rescue. The extremists dispersed, and the believer helped the women get back to their house.”

The Christian students requested prayers for their safety, while they continue to share the Good News among the people.

Pastor and over 100 believers detained in Madhya Pradesh

In this case, the assault occurred with the apparent involvement of the police. Christian Today learned that Madhya Pradesh police accompanied by a crowd of Hindu zealots disrupted a peaceful prayer meeting at Barwani and arrested the Pastor and members of the congregation.

The victim Pastor Hade Singh Rawat, who was earlier been targeted by Hindutva fundamentalists, was leading a peaceful prayer meeting with a congregation of over 150, at his home.

According to GCIC, “the situation is getting out of hand and the believers, numbering 150 have been made to sit outside the police station, while the mob has been calling for more local people to “siege" the police station.”

GCIC said that in all probability the Christian leaders would be charged with false cases because the pressure on the police is increasing.

Madhya Pradesh is one of seven states that passed the anti–conversion law, which can imprison or fine people found guilty of conversion.

The local Christians fear that radicals might falsely accuse the Pastor with conversion–– which might seriously put an end to their personal and ministry life.

Madhya Pradesh, which is ruled by the Hindu nationalist party, has in the past forced arrest on several missionaries under charges of allurement, Section 3 of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (anti–conversion law) and under Sections 147, 294, 323, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, for rioting, obscene acts, voluntarily causing hurt, and criminal intimidation.

Pastor dragged and beaten in Karnataka

On contrary to Karnataka Chief–Minister's recent guarantee of safety and protection to Christians by its Saffron group, Sangh Parivar activists, last week, attacked and dragged a pastor to the police station, falsely accusing him of conversion and kidnapping. The incident happened in Heggere, Hubli of Dharwad district, Karnataka.

The victim, Pastor Vinod Talakere of Share in Care Ministry Church has a congregation of 25 families who have been worshipping regularly for the past year and a half.

On June 26, when the Pastor was conducting a prayer meeting in a believer's house, a group of 100–200 Sangh Parivar members led by BJP Corporator Mr.Gandakar barged in and attacked the Church members.

Accusing the pastor of forcible conversion, the extremists dragged Pastor Vinod to the police station, which is over 1 km from Heggere.

Mr. Badigera the Sub Inspector of the local police station has filed an FIR against the Pastor and few members of the Church who were accused of conversion.

The radicals also accused the pastor of kidnapping girls and enrolling them in the Bible College, run by the Church. Stating the comments to be totally ‘fabricated’ the pastor said, he has been running an orphanage with 12 children and has also been offering training classes for tailoring, carpentry and other vocational courses for the children.