Violence in East India

[Spring Onion]

come on,ok the extremists have gone mad and there is a serious problem with the central and state government i agree people are going to die people are going to be caught some people may not be caught i agree,i agree with what you are trying to say ,case closed you have chieved what you were trying to do, no more posts please.

Well come on dear seriously can you ask the Hindu exterimists to stop killing these Christians ??? Can you ask them no more please ??

 

[dr.umer]

come on,ok the extremists have gone mad and there is a serious problem with the central and state government i agree people are going to die people are going to be caught some people may not be caught i agree,i agree with what you are trying to say ,case closed you have chieved what you were trying to do, no more posts please.

What do you mean case closed? If you are not interested in this discussion, you are most welcome to leave. There are hundreds of issues being disucssed here in different sections. Go there.

 

[dr.umer]

Christians may form militia for self-defence: Church leader​

NEW DELHI: Looking low and dejected, a Church leader from Orissa warned Sunday that if the government failed to stop attacks on his community, Christians in the state will be forced to raise a militia for self-defence. "All that the governments have been doing, both in the state and at the centre, is paint an illusion. Beautiful, but hollow words is all they have to offer. It's been eight days and the violence continues. If such a situation persists, we will have no option but to form our own 'Suraksha Vahini'," the priest told IANS on condition of anonymity.

The priest, who is based in Bhubaneshwar and who reached New Delhi Aug 26, said he did not want to be quoted by name because he had already received death threats and feared for his life. He spoke in the church premises in the heart of the capital.

The Church leader might be in a delegation set to meet President Pratibha Patil Monday. He said, however, that not many were hopeful. "We met the prime minister, the home minister and will meet the president tomorrow. However, I have my doubts that anything fruitful will come out of it. All that we keep getting are fine words that 'this will be done and that will be done'. In reality not only Kandhamal but many districts in Orissa are burning," the church member said.

"I have told people from Orissa to say they are not Christians in order to save their lives. You can follow religion as long as you are alive. This sadly is increasingly becoming an intolerant society," he added. Orissa has been on the boil since the killing of a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader and four others Aug 23 by suspected Maoist guerrillas sparked off a wave of anti-Christian violence that has left 13 dead. Hundreds of people have fled their homes.

Radical Hindu groups in the state alleged that Christians killed Saraswati because he opposed religious conversion. Christian groups deny this. Another senior Church member from Delhi, said that the number of dead in Orissa was much more than what the authorities were admitting.

"The state government says peace is being restored and people are returning to their homes. Which homes are they talking about? The ones that have been burnt down?"

 

[Spring Onion]

Christians may form militia for self-defence: Church leader​

NEW DELHI: Looking low and dejected, a Church leader from Orissa warned Sunday that if the government failed to stop attacks on his community, Christians in the state will be forced to raise a militia for self-defence. "All that the governments have been doing, both in the state and at the centre, is paint an illusion. Beautiful, but hollow words is all they have to offer. It's been eight days and the violence continues. If such a situation persists, we will have no option but to form our own 'Suraksha Vahini'," the priest told IANS on condition of anonymity.

The priest, who is based in Bhubaneshwar and who reached New Delhi Aug 26, said he did not want to be quoted by name because he had already received death threats and feared for his life. He spoke in the church premises in the heart of the capital.

The Church leader might be in a delegation set to meet President Pratibha Patil Monday. He said, however, that not many were hopeful. "We met the prime minister, the home minister and will meet the president tomorrow. However, I have my doubts that anything fruitful will come out of it. All that we keep getting are fine words that 'this will be done and that will be done'. In reality not only Kandhamal but many districts in Orissa are burning," the church member said.

"I have told people from Orissa to say they are not Christians in order to save their lives. You can follow religion as long as you are alive. This sadly is increasingly becoming an intolerant society," he added. Orissa has been on the boil since the killing of a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader and four others Aug 23 by suspected Maoist guerrillas sparked off a wave of anti-Christian violence that has left 13 dead. Hundreds of people have fled their homes.

Radical Hindu groups in the state alleged that Christians killed Saraswati because he opposed religious conversion. Christian groups deny this. Another senior Church member from Delhi, said that the number of dead in Orissa was much more than what the authorities were admitting.

"The state government says peace is being restored and people are returning to their homes. Which homes are they talking about? The ones that have been burnt down?"

wow somthing like tribal lashkars

good

 

[Spring Onion]

Orissa: Additional security personnel deployed in Koraput


Sun, Aug 31 03:15 PM

A day after violence spilled to areas adjacent to Orissa's riot-hit Kandhamal, additional security personnel were deployed on Sunday in Koraput district as the state sought more central forces.

Two companies of CRPF and three companies of Orissa State Armed Police (OSAP) were deployed at Jeypore where 11 people, including officials, were injured in a mob attack and clash between two communities over some objectionable graffiti in a college on Saturday, police said.

Prohibitory orders were in force at nearby Baipariguda where two churches were damaged by miscreants, Deputy Inspector General of Police Sanjeev Panda said, adding six persons have been arrested in connection with the violence.

In the wake of the violence in Koraput, the state Government has sought 10 more companies of central paramilitary forces to contain arson and prevent trouble from affecting more areas, a senior official said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who had faced protest from riot victims in a relief camp at Tikabali last evening, visited Jalespeta Ashram on Sunday in Tumudibandh area where VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati had been gunned down on the night of August 23, triggering the violence.

Patnaik asserted that those perpetrating violence would be punished and promised quick relief and rehabilitation for the victims in the communally sensitive district.

In Kandhamal, near normalcy returned amidst reports of stray incidents

Orissa: Additional security personnel deployed in Koraput - Yahoo! India News

 

[dr.umer]

More prayer houses attacked in Orissa​

BHUBANESWAR: Violence was reported from more areas in Koraput district in southern Orissa on Sunday, even as the situation was limping back to normality in the riot-hit Kandhamal district.

Eight prayer houses were damaged in Kundra area of Koraput during the day, police said.

Violence erupted in the district following a clash between two groups in Jeypore town on Saturday and five churches were damaged. Curfew was clamped and it is still in force.

In Kandhamal, two groups of women victims clashed at a relief camp at Baliguda over distribution of relief materials. More than 9,000 people have taken shelter in the seven relief camps opened in different areas of Kandhamal to help families affected by violence triggered by the killing of VHP leader Swami Lakshmanananda. The authorities were finding it difficult cope with the influx of people into the camps.

On Saturday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik faced an angry group of protesters when he visited a relief camp at Tikabali. The families affected by the riots raised slogans against Mr. Patnaik and asked him to go back.

Asked whether his government would hand over the case pertaining to the killing of the swami to the Central Bureau of Investigation, Mr. Patnaik replied in the negative. He expressed the hope that the State police would be able to arrest the culprits.

On the other hand, shortage of security personnel was also making it difficult for the administration to restore peace in the district. Curfew continues to remain in force in eight towns of the district.

Poor christians forgot that they are part of india, a failed secular country. GOI has left them at the mercy of barbaric hindu fanatics. No forces to bring peace to these troubled parts. What a huge embarrasment for india but who cares when one is shameless.

 

[dabong1]

More than 10,000 Christians are living in refugee camps in the eastern Indian state of Orissa after anti-Christian violence in the area, officials say.

Meanwhile, the toll in the continuing violence, after a Hindu leader was killed 10 days ago, has risen to 20.

Over 3,000 police have been deployed but attacks on churches and Christian institutions continue.

A senior Maoist leader has claimed responsibility for the killing, but Hindu groups have accused Christians.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the violence as a "national disgrace".

The Pope too has condemned the violence and the Italian government has expressed its concerns.

'Wretched condition'

With the violence spreading to new areas of the state, refugees continued to arrive at the camps, officials said.

"People actually are in a very wretched condition," news agency Reuters quoted Bijoy Sarangi, who is in-charge of a relief camp in Kandhamal, as saying.

"They are coming from neighbouring villages and the local administration has taken all steps to bring them from their villages to this place. Gradually, the number is increasing," he said.


A Maoist leader claimed they killed Swami Saraswati

The state's chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, visited some of the people caught up in the violence in the worst-affected Kandhamal district.

"I've been to see the houses here. I have met the people here. Relief is being given. Matters will be checked up thoroughly to see that whatever their damages are and that they get the compensation for that," Mr Patnaik said.

Meanwhile, fresh anti-Christian violence was reported from the state's Koraput district over the weekend.

Officials said 10 churches were burnt by arsonists and attacks on Christian houses and institutions continued.

Officials said all schools and colleges in Koraput have been ordered shut for the next three days.

'Punished'

Trouble began 10 days ago after Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was shot along with four others in an attack in the Kandhamal district.

Hindu mobs blamed the killing on Christians and burnt down monasteries, churches and an orphanage.


Orissa has seen rising tension between Christians and Hindus

Among those killed was a Hindu woman who was working at the orphanage, in the village of Barakhama.

Meanwhile, a prominent Maoist leader has claimed that Hindu leader Swami Laxamananda Saraswati was killed by Maoists.

On Saturday, a man claiming to be the prominent rebel leader "Azad" told a local newspaper that the Hindu leader was "punished" for his "fascist" activities.

"He was killed by the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) for the dubious role he played in the violence against Christians in December last year," he said.

The BBC's Rahul Tandon in the state capital, Bhubaneswar, says it is a complex issue - Hindu groups have long accused Christian priests of bribing poor tribes and low-caste Hindus to change their faith.

Christians say lower-caste Hindus convert willingly to escape the Hindu caste system.

As the authorities struggle to deal with the present situation, the divide between the two communities grows wider and wider, our correspondent says.
BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | India Christians shelter in camps

 

[Neo]

Hindus burn four more churches in India ​

* Officials say religious violence has claimed 14 lives so far​

BHUBANESWAR: Hindu mobs have burnt at least four more churches in eastern India, officials said on Monday, as religious violence appeared to spread.

Thousands of people, mostly Christians, have taken shelter in makeshift camps in Orissa state, where Hindu mobs went on the rampage last week after a Hindu leader was killed. Last week officials said the violence appeared to be abating after Hindu and Christian leaders called for calm, but over the weekend it spread to new parts of the state. Mobs set fire to four churches in the districts of Koraput and Rayagada, Orissa’s Director General of Police, Gopal Chandra Nanda, told Reuters.

Two churches and several houses were also burnt in the Kandhamal district, the epicentre of the tension, despite a curfew imposed in most of its towns, one of the state’s leading newspapers, The Samaja, reported on Monday. Officials said they could not confirm that report. The violence has drawn international condemnation, including from Pope Benedict.

Revised death toll: Local government officials revised the death toll to 14 and said they had received unconfirmed reports that two more bodies had been found.

Thousands of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in nine of state’s 30 districts after the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a senior state police official said. “We are going to deploy in three more districts on Monday,” he added. reuters

 

[dr.umer]

Italy: Muslims urged to pray for Christians in India​

AKI
Adnkronos International
Italy

Rome, 2 Sept. (AKI) - An Italian Muslim group has accepted an invitation from Catholic bishops to pray for Christians targeted by recent religious conflict in India.

"We invite all Muslims to accept the invitation from the CEI (Italian Bishops Conference) on 5 September, to pray for our Christian brothers, who are suffering now in India," said Ahmad Gianpiero Vincenzo, president of Italian Muslim Intellectuals, in a media statement.

"We want to set a good example by gathering in prayer at the Great Mosque in Rome."

"The initiative will fall during our holy fasting month of Ramadan," said Karim Mezran, secretary-general of the assocation and visiting professor of Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins University's Bologna Center.

"The community is practising its faith and this will be very significant and show that our religions are closer in more ways than anyone imagined."

The Catholic Bishops Conference of India said on Monday that Christians in eastern India were being subjected to a "reign of terror" which had destroyed thousands of dwellings and left nearly 40,000 people homeless.

Father Babu Karakombil, spokesman for the CBCI, told Adnkronos International (AKI) that a week of unrest sparked by the killing of a Hindu leader in the state of Orissa had provoked "unprecedented" attacks on Christians.

He said 4,300 homes, 50 churches and five convents had been destroyed in the worst affected district of Kandhamal and thousands of people were still hiding in the jungles of the state.

 

[dr.umer]

Christian Community determined to set up private army to guard their establishments​

NEW DELHI, Sept 2 (APP): As the Christian community in India is determined to set up private army to guard their establishments, the situation in Orissa’s worst -hit Kandhamal district continued to boil on Tuesday.

In the fresh violence, at least 80 houses were burnt in several villages of Tikabali and Sarangada areas since yesterday noon, media reports quoting official sources in state capital said.

A high-level team of officials visited the affected areas and assess the extent of damage caused to the properties.

As the arson continued to rural pockets, there is only one jawan to control in every village,” a senior police officer said.

The official said continued violence in rural, inaccessible and difficult terrains in the state has compounded the problem in controlling the situation.

There were reports of migration of Christian population to the state capital and dense jungles to protect themselves from Hindu extremists.

All India Christian Council has reported fresh communal violence against Christian Community in the Orissa state.

The Council condemned it and demanded the government to put ban on Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal.

 

[dr.umer]

Archbishop calls for end to violence in Orissa​

Inspire Magazine
UK
2 Sep 2008

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Willams, has expressed profound distress at the extreme violence being used in Orissa following the murder of Hindu leader, Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati.

In a letter sent today to the Moderator of North India, the Most Revd Joel Mal, Dr Williams called for an end to the violence in Orissa and for intense prayer for the suffering churches.

The Archbishop said: “I hope that Christians and people of faith around the world will make known their horror at this violence, their support for the rebuilding of lives and the churches, orphanages and schools destroyed, and for work towards future reconciliation”.

 

[dr.umer]

Indian government pressed for action on horrific Orissa violence​

Ekklesia UK | 4 Sep 2008

Following a series of horrific attacks in Orissa, Indian church and human rights organisations have been keeping up pressure on the government for decisive action against militants, and they are asking for world attention to the crisis.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said earlier this week that the authorities would move against the culprits in the communal conflict between Hindus and Christians in the State.

The All India Christian Council, an organisation established in 1998 to campaign for minorities, is monitoring the situation closely and has published a horrific list of incidents involving violence and murder that too place in August.

A 'citizens' delegation' went to see Indian President Pratibha Patil on Monday 1 September 2008, calling on her to enforce Article 355 of the Constitution on Orissa. They want to see Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik administration takes adequate measures to protect Christians in the state from Hindutva violence.

Human rights campaigners stress that moderates of all religious persuasions and communities are sickened and horrified by the attacks.

The best legal option available, according to the citizens' delegation, was Article 355 which calls for imposition of President’s rule. It reminds both the authorities in New Delhi and the state governments of their duties to protect States and their inhabitants against internal violence.

The delegation reminded the President that the violence that violence against Christians in Orissa has taken place continually since 23 August, far exceeding that of late 2007, when Human Rights Watch intervened.

Back then, violence broke out on 24 December during an altercation between Hindus and Christians over Christmas celebrations in Orissa’s Kandhamal district. A group of Christians then attacked the vehicle of a local leader of a right-wing Hindu organization. In retaliation, Hindu mobs burned down at least 19 churches, and attacked church officials.

Christians then began to attack Hindu properties. A number of villagers have fled their homes to escape the violence. The state government failed to act quickly, leaving vulnerable groups at risk, which enabled the violence to escalate over the last four days. The exact death toll in these clashes is still unknown, though the media have reported the deaths of at least eight people.

For several years, extremist Hindu groups in Orissa have been conducting an anti-Christian campaign that has grown violent at times, while government officials have looked the other way, says Human Rights Watch.

This time the flare-up was over the killing of a Hindu activists blamed on Christians but actually carried out by leftist guerrillas. Violence has also spilled out of Orissa into neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. In Orissa, it is not confined to Kandhamal but has affected other districts. In Kandhamal, fifty thousand people are hiding in forests or are in a few refugee camps, hiding from murderous gangs seeking to kill or convert them.

Over 4,000 houses have been completely destroyed apart from close to a hundred small and big churches which have been torched.

To a further delegation led by the State of Kerala's leader of the opposition, Oomen Chandy, PM Manmohan Singh said the central government had taken serious note of the violence and that he had personally spoken to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to ensure the return of communal harmony.

Orissa has been a cauldron since the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Laxmananda Saraswati and four others on 23 August 2008 by suspected Maoist guerrillas sparked off a wave of anti-Christian violence.

Radical Hindu groups in the State have alleged that Christians killed Saraswati because he opposed religious conversion. Christian groups have vigorously denied the charge.

Chandy, while condemning the VHP for its alleged role in leading atrocities against Christian minorities in the state, praised the majority of Hindus in the riot hit districts for giving shelter to the affected people. "A small minority section is trying to spoil the great tradition and culture of the country," Chandy declared.

Noting the large scale destruction, both of life and property, Prime Minister Singh further said the government would provide assistance to family members of those who had lost their lives or displaced. Those rendered homeless would also get assistance to repair their houses from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, he added.

"Secularism is the strength of India and the government must take strong steps to protect it," a delegation of senior Congress leaders including Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, G Karthikeyan, KV Thomas, PJ Kurien and Pandalam Sudhakaran declared this week.

They added: "The Orissa incidents not only hurt the sentiments of the Christians, but all the peace loving people of the country."

 

[dr.umer]

wow somthing like tribal lashkars

good

It is the only language these hindu fanatics understand.

The most certain test by which we judge whether a country is really free is the amount of security enjoyed by minorities.

You be the judge.

 

[Spring Onion]

No Togadia yatra, Orissa promises SC
4 Sep 2008, 0149 hrs IST,TNN


NEW DELHI: The Naveen Patnaik government on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it will act tough and prevent any yatra with the ashes of slain VHP leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati. The Centre, meanwhile, termed the situation in the communal riot-affected areas of Orissa “tense” and “needing strong measures to stop rallies that could rupture the uneasy calm”.

The court recorded the state’s undertaking that “all possible steps would be taken to prevent any untoward incident from taking place”. The state also said that prohibitory orders have been clamped in all communal-riot hit areas where tension prevailed. In addition, it gave a blanket order to the paramilitary forces and the state police force to take all possible steps to prevent any law and order situation and protect people’s life and property.

Tasking the state to keep communal elements at bay, a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices P Sathasivam and J M Panchal said: “The state government would also take urgent steps to see that those who are in the relief camps are protected and no miscreant is allowed to visit the camps to create any problem.”

It acceded to the state’s request for an additional four battalions of central paramilitary forces to deal with any possible law and order situation that could arise in stopping the proposed yatra . The Centre agreed to take urgent steps to meet the demand for additional forces.

Given the sensitiveness of the situation, the apex court decided to keep an eye on the issue and asked the state government to file a detailed affidavit by September 11 responding to the petition alleging inaction. The Centre, however, virtually rejected the allegation of inaction on the part of the state giving it credit for having acted promptly after the communal flare-up that took place with the killing of Lakshmanananda Saraswati on August 23.

Putting to rest speculation about major central intervention in the state, including a possible CBI probe into the riots, Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam said: “We have no evidence as of today to believe that the state will not take all possible steps to prevent any communal flare-up.”

The Archbishop of Cuttack, through senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, had pleaded that allowing the yatra by VHP leader Praveen Togadia on Friday would be akin to throwing a matchstick into the communal tinder box. Undeterred by flak from the SC, Togadia said the yatra will go on.

“The body of Swamiji was not cremated. His was a samadhi and he was buried. So claims of the asthi-kalash yatra are not true. However, we will condole his death with a yatra across the state,” he said, adding, “we will march through every village and town of Orissa despite the pressure tactics of the Christians to ensure safety of Swami Lakshmanananda’s murderers.”

Allaying fears, Orissa Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy in his affidavit said: “State will take all possible steps to maintain law and order in the event of any proposed yatra by anyone.”

No Togadia yatra, Orissa promises SC-India-The Times of India

 

[Myth_buster_1]

Worlds Biggest democracy in Action!

Orissa similar to Gujarat 2002: Agnivesh

NEW DELHI (ICNS): Swami Agnivesh, a well known religious leader, says the anti-Christian violence in Orissa was planned and has similarities with the 2002 Gujarat riots that targeted Muslims.
The President of World Council of Arya Samaj told reporters in New Delhi the murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was “used as an excuse” to attack Christians.
It was in the same fashion of Hindu fanatics in Gujarat using the train burning incident at Godhra to attack Christians, he said on Friday. In both places the government failed to act and contain violence.

The saffron-clad Swami wanted a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to find out the killers of the 85-year Saraswati.

He said Hindu fanatic groups get support from the state government in Orissa, where Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is part of the ruling coalition. He said the state tacitly supports these groups to instigate violence.

Swami Agnivesh was among a team of people that visited Orissa trying to ***** the violence and its impact. Activists Shabnam Hashmi and Vimal Thorat included the team.

Shabnam Hashmi also told reporters that the Orissa riot was in certina respect a repetition of the Gujarat riots, in which some 1,000 Muslims were killed. The Orissa riot was executed with “same preparedness and planning," she said.

According to her the attackers had lists with them to ensure that they do not miss targets.