India: Investigators of Christian violence barred from Orissa
Jan 08 2008
Postings >> India

The authorities in India's Orissa state have barred investigators from a district where up to 60 churches were attacked over Christmas.

Up to six Christians are reported dead in Kandhamal district and as many as 400 Christian homes destroyed after violence flared on Christmas Eve and continued for seven days.

Hindu extremists linked with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have been widely blamed for the violence. The BBC reports that some Christians retaliated, attacking a VHP leader, although a local source has denied this.

Much of the conflict has centred on the Baliguda sub-district of Kandhamal, where most of the population is tribal, according to Compass Direct. Dr John Dayal, Secretary General of the All India Christian Council (AICC), says many Christians have fled their villages.

Dr Dayal also reported anecdotal evidence that displaced people were being 'forced to convert to Hinduism if they are to get food, medical attention and shelter'.

RI sources suggest that riots were triggered by concern about people from low castes turning to Christ. Orissa is one of several Indian states to have introduced 'anti-conversion laws' which, many believe, are aimed at curbing Christian evangelism. The first violence was focused on the Church of our Lady of Lourdes in Brahmani village, where the congregation were pitching a tent for their Christmas celebrations.

When opposition political parties and the AICC tried to send fact-finding teams into the area, they were prevented from doing so 'for the sake of law and order'. There are fewer than 900,000 Christians in Orissa, which has a population of 36 million.

Pray for God's protection over His church in Kandhamal and a return to order.

Pray that the Orissa authorities would do more to protect the Christian minority.