CNI Churches Burnt and Believers Killed by Fundamentalists in Kandhamal  

The festive mood of Christians living in Kandhamal district of Orissa, earlier undivided Phulbani, turned sour when their churches and houses were burnt, vandalized, and desecrated by the Hindu fundamentalists on the eve of Christmas.  The violence was triggered against Christians, what is seen as a well planned conspiracy, by a Hindu priest named Lakhana Nanda Saraswati who visited Brahmanigaon just before Christmas and provoked the local Hindus to drive away Christians from the village.  Soon the news spread across Kandhamal and anti-Christian attacks were made.  Although the violence first broke out at Brahmanigaon the worst of violence was seen at Barakhamba village where Christians were attacked and one believer was even chased to death.  Fearing ghastly consequence of returning home many people are still hiding in forest without any access to food, water and clothing and daring the cold.  

As soon as the incidence took place The Rt. Rev. Bijoy Kumar Nayak, Bishop of the Diocese of Phulbani, Church of North India sought intervention and protection of Christians from the local administration and police but was disappointed by their gestures and thus called up the neighboring Bishops and church leaders for external help to control the situation and protect his people.  Swiftly responding to his call, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Samson Das, Bishop of the Diocese of Cuttack, Church of North India took initiative to meet the State Governor and the Chief Minister along with other church leaders to curb the violence and ensure security to the Christians in Orissa.  

When the Union Home Minister Mr. Shivraj Patil visited the area along with the State Chief Minister Mr. Navin Pattnaik and the Leader of Opposition in Orissa Assembly Mr. Janaki Ballabha Pattnaik a delegation of church leaders including Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, Bishop Saratchandra Nayak, Bishop Samson Das and Rev. P. R. Parichha met them and submitted a memorandum highlighting the following demands:  

1. An immediate unbiased enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigations.
2. Adequate and immediate deployment of Central paramilitary Forces.
3. Immediate compensation to the inured and the survivors of the dead as paid top victims of violence in Gujarat and 
    other States.
4. Fact finding team to assess the damage to property, and immediate announcement of comprehensive 
    compensation.  

As a result the State Government has announced that the families whose houses had been burnt down by the attackers would be provided with one dwelling unit each under the Indira Awas Yojana, a government scheme to provide housing. Those whose houses had been damaged partially would get Rs. 10,000 each as compensation. The next of kin of those killed in the violence would be given Rs. 1 lakh each as ex-gratia from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.  

As the government supports rebuilding of the houses damaged and burnt there is challenge for us to rebuild the Temple of the Lord.  Although on-the-spot assessment of the loss of lives and property is yet to be known, after the curfew is called off, it is reported that a total of 36 churches, out of which 16 belonging to CNI under the Episcopal care of Bishop B. K. Nayak, and nearly 400 houses have been damaged and burnt.  The homeless people are surviving at the relief camp established at Baliguda.  The CNI has condemned the attacks in strongest words and has demanded for CBI inquiry into the matter.  Please uphold the people and the churches in your prayers.