The Church of North India (CNI) reports that the Orissa state government will rebuild the homes of Christians burnt to the ground by Hindu fanatics during the Christmas week riots, will pay compensation to the families of those killed, and give grants of assistance to those whose homes were damaged.

Last month the Church accused the Orissa state government of collusion when it declined to put a stop to the violence. Subsequent investigations by the church and government investigators have determined the attacks were part of a “well planned conspiracy” organized by a “Hindu priest named Lakhana Nanda Saraswati who visited [the area] just before Christmas and provoked the local Hindus to drive away Christians from the village. Soon the news spread across Kandhamal and anti-Christian attacks were made.

“Although the violence first broke out at Brahmanigaon the worst of violence was seen at Barakhamba village where Christians were attacked and one believer was even chased to death. Fearing ghastly consequence of returning home many people are still hiding in forest without any access to food, water and clothing and daring the cold,” the CNI said.

The Barnabas Fund reports the rioters led by cadres from the Hindu nationalist party the Vishwa Hindu Panishad (VHP) “were at pains not just to destroy but also to desecrate. At a church in Bamunigaon, they carefully took out the communion cups and all associated materials and crushed them under their feet.

“In Kutikia a small church was attacked and its minister and 12 church members taken to a field where their heads were shaved because they refused to deny Christ. Then they were ordered to eat raw rice mixed with goats’ blood so as to become Hindus,” it said.

When the police refused to come to the aid of Christians under attack, the Bishop of Phulbani, the Rt Rev Bijay Kumar Nayak sought the aid of other CNI bishops and Christian leaders.

He asked the CNI’s Bishop of Cuttack the Rt Rev Samson Das, Roman Catholic Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack and other church leaders to intercede with India’s Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and state leaders. The Christian leaders urged the government to use the army to restore law and order, launch an investigation to identify the ringleaders and causes of the riots, and pay compensation to the victims of the communal violence.

The CNI has issued a statement condemning “the attacks in strongest words.” While pleased with the steps taken towards rebuilding the destroyed homes, it has urged the national government to investigate the collapse in law and order in Orissa.



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