Christians in Orissa state campaign for protection

Churches and Christian groups in the state of Orissa demanded enhanced security, after the recent violence since Christmas, ensued huge damages to the Christian community.

"Christians are brutally attacked by the fundamentalists and law and order is fully missing especially in Kandhamal where the fundamentalists have taken charge of the whole district," said Christian groups and churches in an appeal to India's National Human Rights Commission on 2 January.

Ecumenical News International (ENI) said, the Roman Catholic Church, the ecumenical All India Christian Council and other church groups submitted a joint memorandum to the human rights body.

It pointed the consequences occurred due to the violence, where more than 60 churches have been torched, 600 Christians’ houses burnt down and more over 5000 Christians been displaced.

"The plight of the Christians is really pitiable," John Dayal, AICC secretary general who has been visiting troubled–torn villages in recent days, told ENI.

ENI quoted Dayal as saying, the attack against Christians by armed Hindu extremists, has caused pastors as well as members of congregations flee to jungles. Although police offered assistance to the harassed Christians, the pastors were advised to distance their churches, due to inadequate security.

"A series of well planned attacks on innocent Christians and their leaders have completely shocked us," noted Catholic Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cattuck–Bhubaneshwar, which is the capital of Orissa, in the memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"What is more worrying and disheartening to note is the manner in which the unruly mob went on rampaging in villages," the archbishop said in document he presented to the prime minister on 31 December after making a special trip to New Delhi.

Meanwhile, Global Council of Indian Christians noted that the government administration has been sluggish over the relief and rehabilitation measures undertaken.

It quoted a riot victim saying, "Look at the relief camp! The minister also saw it. The rice is bad. I had to spit it out. There are spastic children and sick women and the same food is offered to them. They have given one sari to families with three mature women. How will they cover themselves?"

"Blankets, shawls and polythene have been given. But they don't serve any purpose. It doesn't protect us and our children from the biting cold and we can't even sleep at night,'' bemoaned another riot victim.

Although there is no official word on how many people, homes and churches have been affected, sources said, close to 1500 people may still be hiding in forests and elsewhere seeking help.