Thousands of Christians are hiding in jungles in the impoverished Indian state of Orissa to escape a wave of anti-Christian violence. Christian groups claim 400 churches and other buildings have been damaged or destroyed and about 1200 homes torched by Hindu mobs supporting the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) or World Hindu Council. Officials say 20 people, mostly Christians, have been killed in 10 days of sectarian violence, although Delhi-based human rights watchdog, the Asian Centre for Human Rights, puts the number of dead at 50. Sajan George, convener of the Global Council of the Indian Christians, and Richard Howell, general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India, said at least 50,000 Christians had fled into the relative safety of remote jungle areas. At least 10,000 more had moved into guarded refugee camps.
The violence in Orissa erupted after an anti-missionary Hindu leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, was shot dead in the Kandhamal district on the night of August 24. The VHP blamed “Christian militants” for the killing and revenge attacks began. Maoist rebels operating in Orissa have since claimed responsibility for the swami’s death but that did not put an end to the attacks. A hard-line Hindu leader in Orissa, Subhash Chauhan, said that Christians were behind the murder of the Swami and demanded they apologise for the brutal killing. “If they do not, the reaction of Hindus to the swami’s murder will continue,” he said. The violence against Christians has spread to many districts in Orissa and at least two other states.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has labeled the violence a “national shame” and a “rapid action force” has been deployed in Orissa’s worst affected districts to bolster local police resources. But Indian church leaders say not enough is being done to protect Christians who make up only 2 to 3% of Orissa’s population.[1]
[1] http://www.theage.com.au/world/indians-flee-from-antichristian-attacks-20080903-48y0.html
Posted by Brendon Naicker 