Release International

Villagers in remote areas of Orissa say they fear a fresh outbreak of widespread violence against Christians – after a series of extremist attacks.

Ethnic minority Koya Christians say Hindu extremists have attacked their villages in Malkangiri district, east India, at least 15 times since early December – and they fear worse is to come.

Churches and Christians have been attacked – including children and women, some of them pregnant. Even midnight prayer meetings have been raided and participants beaten. Some Christians have fled the area for fear of further attacks.

In the latest incident, about 60 extremists raided the village of Murliguda, beating one Christian unconscious and damaging the eardrums of another.

One of the worst raids was on Christmas Day, when about 200 extremists burst into a church in Koyi Konda, seriously injuring several Christians and wrecking furniture. The homes and crops of about ten Christians were also destroyed.

Christian leaders in the area say they fear that police inaction in response to villagers' complaints may have spurred on extremists to make further attacks.

The Malkangiri District Christian Forum is reported as claiming that extremists have forcibly converted about 25 people to Hinduism in the Mottu area.

The Forum has been lobbying police and district and state officials demanding greater protection for Christians – to avoid a repeat of 2008, when extremists launched a widespread campaign of violence against Christians across Orissa, and particularly in Kandhamal district.

Compass Direct news agency notes that some Christians are concerned that a group of officials from Kandhamal district have been transferred to Malkangiri.

News update:
Release contacts say the case of Afghan Christian Shoib Assadullah is due in court again this week. Shoib, who is in his mid-20s, has been detained since October – after he gave a New Testament to someone who then informed on him to the authorities. Shoib is concerned about new management at his prison and what that might result in. Fellow Christian Said Musa was released from jail in Afghanistan last month – after being detained for almost nine months on charges of 'apostasy' (Prisoners of Faith Alert, March 2011).

(Sources: Compass Direct, Release sources)

• Pray for ethnic minority Koya Christians in Orissa. Ask God to protect them – and pray that district and state officials will play their part in defending these vulnerable communities.
• Pray for Shoib Assadullah's safety and for his swift acquittal. Pray that Shoib, who became a Christian about five years ago, will stand firm in his faith.

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