Orissa Violence: Real Death Toll?

Death Toll Much Higher Than Official Figure

7 days after the terrible violence in Orissa began, officials are presenting a death toll between 14 and 20.

Given the nature of the violence, and the scale of destruction, one suspects this figure to be far higher.

Basing himself on "reliable sources", a Christian activist now makes a shocking claim that there are "at least 100 dead".

Asianews reports:

Meanwhile, the number of victims of the violence continues to increase: "We have received authentic information that the death toll is 100", says Dr Sajan George, national president of the GCIC, "and more butchered bodies and burnt corpes are being found".

In its statement the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) too puts the figure much above the official figure claiming "that 50 people, mostly Christians, were killed in the recent Orissa violence.