India: Anti-Christian violence spreads
Oct 14 2008
Postings >> India

The death toll continues to rise as extremists extend their anti-Christian rampage across 12 Indian states.

Almost two months after violence erupted in Orissa's Kandhamal district, Hindu extremists in Sindhipnakha village murdered two Christians and burned almost 400 homes.

On the same day, an 80-year-old Christian, Lalji Nayak was killed with an axe in Hrudangia village. Among the 14 others injured in the raid were Nayak's wife and brother. And at least two other Christians were found dead in a river in the district. There are also reports of 'low-intensity' bomb attacks on Christians in three relief camps in Kandhamal.

Latest reports from the All India Christian Council (AICC) say that at least 57 people have been killed and more than 18,000 injured since violence first broke out. Tens of thousands are homeless. Since 7x7's last report on 30 September, the AICC reports incidents of anti-Christian violence in Bihar, New Delhi, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand.
 
Compass reports that thousands of paramilitaries have been drafted into Orissa by both state and central governments. But the central government is still not satisfied that the Orissa authorities are doing enough – and nor are India's Christians.

Nearly 15,000 Christians took part in a peace march on October 2 – the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Among the Hindu leaders addressing the marchers at Rajghat, Gandhi's final resting place, was Hindu scholar Swami Agnivesh. 'The very killers of Mahatma Gandhi are the same killers of Christians in Orissa […],' he said.

Violence erupted in Orissa's Kandhamal district after the murder on August 23 of Hindu extremist leader Laxmanananda Saraswati. Maoists have since said they killed him.

(Sources: All India Christian Council; Compass Direct; The Times of India; VOM Canada)

Pray for more concerted action by the Indian authorities to rein in the violence.

Ask God to bless and strengthen His church in India in these testing times.