More Christians Killed as Orissa Violence Spreads

The violence that began in the Indian state of Orissa on Christmas Eve continued through Friday, with arson attacks killing at least nine more Christians. Furthermore, at least 50 churches and institutions have been destroyed or desecrated as a result of the attacks. According to the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News), seven Christians were killed Wednesday in the eastern Indian state, including five who died when Hindu radicals attacked houses and a seminary in the Barakhama village in Orissa’s Kandhamal district. Two more Christians were killed when police opened fire at a protesting crowd, UCA News added. On Monday, the day before Christmas, a mob allegedly led by activists affiliated with the Viśva Hindū Parisad (World Hindu Council) had reportedly killed at least two and damaged 12 churches in the Kandhamal district, where at least 100,000 of 650,000-person population are reportedly Christian. All Catholic institutions in the area, including a convent and seminary, were attacked. Rioters also targeted two church-run hostels and high schools as well as a few shops managed by Christians in the small town of Bamunigam.  

An appeal was made Friday by the regional archbishop, Raphael Cheenath; John Dayal, a member of the National Integration Council that advises India's government; and the Rev. P.R. Paricha of advocacy group All India Christian Council (AICC). "There is deep apprehension that the State government and the police, despite their lip-service to restore peace and remove the fears of the people, have not shown the alacrity and diligence required in the face of the spreading hate campaign against Christians, coercive and threatening speeches and the violence," stated the Christian leaders in their appeal. "It is strange that both the Central and State governments are pleading that police forces cannot enter the deep forest areas because hoodlums have cut trees to block roads. Surely the police have the manpower and machinery to remove such roadblocks and restore the rule of law," they said, adding that India's Central Bureau of Investigation should make arrests and "restore peace" while officials should also give "compensation to all victims." Meenakshi Ganguly, senior researcher for the Asia division of Human Rights Watch, also criticized the state government, saying that it should have addressed this problem before it became violent. “The authorities are still failing to react quickly enough, and now ordinary people are being attacked," Ganguly said. "The government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the recent violence, but that is not enough," Ganguly continued. "Unless there is a vigorous attempt by the national government to investigate such activities promoting religious hate, India's secular identity will be seriously jeopardized."  

India is overwhelmingly Hindu but officially secular. Religious minorities, such as Christians, who account for 2.3 percent of the country's 1.1. billion people, and Muslims, who make up 13.4 percent, often coexist peacefully. Some have risen to the highest levels of government and business. But throughout India's history, both communities have faced repeated attacks from hard-line Hindus, with violence against Christians often directed at foreign missionaries and converts from Hinduism. Hindu right-wing groups have often accused Christian missionaries of luring poor and uneducated tribal people to convert to Christianity with money and promises of jobs, education and healthcare. Anguished over the grave situation in Orissa, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India has called for a prayer octave in churches and parishes around the country for peace to return in the state. 

(Source: Christian Post, December 30, 2007)