Campaign for the protection of Christians in Orissa state, India

Laxmanananda Saraswati started a Hindu religious centre in Orissa in 1969, dedicated to countering the work of Christian missionaries. With the advance of Hindu extremism over recent years, Orissa has seen increasing levels of communal tension and anti-Christian sentiment. Last December Saraswati incited attacks on Christians, which killed at least four Christians and saw 730 houses and 95 churches burned.

So when Saraswati was ambushed and shot dead in August, Hindu leaders were quick to point the finger at the Christian community, despite evidence that Maoist terrorists were responsible. In fact, as violence erupted against Christians a Maoist group claimed responsibility for the attack, accusing the Hindu extremists of deliberately misleading people about Saraswati's death.

A week after the violence began, police were claiming to be unable to reach many villages and the state government asked for additional central paramilitary forces to control the violence. As attacks continued with little or no police protection for victims, Christian leaders said many fearful believers had been forcibly 'reconverted' to Hinduism.

Dr. Sajan K. George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, said that Hindu extremist groups were 'reconverting' Christians by force. "We have collected evidence and given it to authorities," he said. "However, the police and other state government authorities are not doing anything."

Christians make up 2.4 per cent of Orissa's population, around one million people. Christian leaders are concerned about the rising death toll – though they also report that many Hindu people had hidden Christians as extremist mobs rampaged through villages.

In the light of the lack of an adequate and decisive response by the authorities to protect the Christian minority, please speak up on their behalf by joining our campaign. Write to the Indian High Commissioner and your MP to voice your concern and request that the Indian government does its utmost to restore peace and stability in the region, to deploy sufficient forces to prevent further violence and to ensure compensation for the victims.

Sources:
Compass Direct News
Open Doors International

Respond

Write to the Indian High Commissioner in the UK and to your MP click here »

Pray for all those who have been bereaved or who have lost their homes and those who are still hiding in fear. Ask God to meet their needs and give them wisdom, courage and peace at this time. Pray that peace will be restored and that Christians will show love and forgiveness. Please also pray that the Indian government responds positively to this campaign.

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