"I Thought I Might Not Even Get a Burial": Fr. Digal

Priest Recounts Close Brush With Death In Orissa

Father Bernard Digal, one of three Catholic priests who escaped death during anti-Christian violence in Orissa state, wondered if he would even get a burial after being beaten and left to die.

UCA News reports:

Father Digal, treasurer of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar archdiocese, was visiting Sankarakhole parish when the violence began on Aug. 24. He narrated his close brush with death to UCA News.

On Aug. 23, the priest and his driver Sisir Pradhan left the archdiocesan headquarters in the state capital of Bhubaneswar, 1,745 kilometers southeast of New Delhi. They reached Sankarakhole at around 10:30 p.m.

"We had dinner. As we were preparing to go to bed after a tiring day, we received a call" saying Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a Hindu leader based in the state's Kandhamal district, was shot dead. "I could not believe it. We went to bed," he recalled.

He recounted that he woke up the next morning hearing anti-Christian slogans and people "yelling outside," saying they wanted to kill missioners.

Father Alexander Chandy, the parish's 65-year-old pastor, Pradhan and Father Digal remained inside the church compound the whole day and moved to a forested area at night.

The situation "got worse" on Aug. 24, Father Digal continued. "We kept getting information on attacks and killings in villages. We got stuck in the forest and survived on dry food."

Father Chandy was sick and could not walk far. To provide him better shelter, the younger priest and his driver went to the house of another priest's brother in the village. They wanted to use his motorcycle to go to a safer place.

Father Digal said they saw the entire house, including the motorcycle, on fire. The two of them then went to see the priest's sister in the village. She urged them to go to a safer place as people had threatened to destroy her house.

The two went to nearby Dudukangia village, where 15 Christian families lived. But the Christians refused them shelter, saying they too had received similar threats.

By then, night had fallen. Since returning to their hiding place in the forest was risky, the two decided to sleep in the village church that had already been torched. "It had only walls standing. We thought the mob would not come, and we were tired of walking all day. Our legs were swollen."

At 11:30 p.m., however, people came to the demolished church. "Seeing the mob, we ran," shared Father Digal. "Pradhan ran fast, but I was caught. The mob shouted to each other to kill me. I pleaded for my life, but they ignored me."

The mob then hit him with crowbars and sticks. "The beatings came like heavy rain. They stripped me naked and asked for mobile phones," the priest recalled.

He said he managed to run some distance but was caught. "I fell to the ground and they continued hammering me. Soon I saw blood flowing from my head and lost consciousness. They thought I was dead and left me."

In his semi-conscious state, the priest said he thought he heard wolf cries and feared the animals would feed on him. "I thought I might not even get a burial. I prayed to the Lord."

Later, two villagers came. By then, the priest's body had become numb because of the wet ground and a cold night breeze.

The villagers brought the church's broken door and helped him lie on it. They also brought him some water. "I was feeling a bit better," he said, "and the villagers left me alone."

His driver came looking for him in the morning, and later informed the police. Along with a few villagers, the police took Father Digal to a public health center in the village and later moved him to the district hospital.

After much pressure, the state administration brought Father Digal to a better hospital in Bhubaneswar. "There is no place left in my body where I was not beaten," said the priest, who is now receiving treatment in a hospital in Mumbai, western India.

Kandhamal Christians Will Be Wiped Out: VHP Vows

The Christians Will Be Wiped Out From Kandhamal: VHP Vows

Dhirendra Panda writes:

I am born of a hindu Brahmin family. My father and other relatives being devotedly religious persons used to tell me that sanyasis are symbols of love, care, truth, justice above earthly hatred-ness, jealousy, violence. We were told about the stories of Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Param Hansa, Sri Chaitanya, Jayadev, Aurovindo.

During my childhood, it would have been quite difficult to digest that sadhus and saints engaged for spreading hate and violence. Similarly there would be many people to disbelieve that sadhus are campaigning for votes to a particular party and using religion for political ends. So nobody should get surprised if they call for wiping out the Christians from Kandhamal.

On 6th August 2008 there were 144 in and around Swadhinata Sangrami Sadan Ground. Considering the announcements and assurance given by the Police Officers and others, it was thought the government will not allow any rally or meeting of VHP. But the VHP had its Sraddhanjali sabha (Tribute paying meet) and along with sadhu (ascetic holy man) sanths (saints), BJP leaders such as Suresh Pujari (President,Orissa BJP), Prasanna Mishra, Panchanan Rout, MLA Pratap Sarangi and Subash Chouhan, Bajranga Dal leader were present in the Meeting.

Please read some of the statements given in the meeting

Mahant Swami Satchidananda Maharaj, presiding over the Meet:

Sacrifice of Swamiji will be meaningful once the cow-slaughter and conversion is totally stopped in the state. In each village committees will be formed to actualize the dreams of Swamiji. If the villagers get awareness, these will be stopped automatically.

Tridandi Swami Bhagwan Das:

Now the Hindus have become minority. There is an international conspiracy behind it. The Christians, majority in 186 countries have not only killed Laxmanananda, but also doing this; they have challenged the entire Hindu Society.

Swami Arupananda Maharaj:

Attack on Swamiji is the same as attacking the 'Hindu Religion'. All the saints/sadhus need to counter-attack unitedly otherwise the entire India will be converted into a Christian nation.

Swami Brahmananda Saraswati:

Once the Englishmen came for trade and commerce had occupied our country. Now Christians in the name of 'the minorityism' have come again to take away our 'independence'. If the attack continues like this, the Hindu community will be wiped out one day.

Swami Satyapriya Maharaj, Arya Samaj:

The Government is like a eunuch that could not give protection to Swamiji, but continue in giving protection to murderers.

Abinash Baba, Joranda:

This is a country of saints and sadhus and the country is 'functioning' for them only. The Government should provide security and protection to mathas and temples.

Ramacharan Das Maharaj:

Limiting ourselves in mere blaming the Government will not serve the purpose. We have to realize and decide that whoever will be able to understand the Hindu religion and respect the saints and sadhus can sit on the throne. If this happens, all the problems will be solved.

Swami Chanmayananda Maharaj:

The Hindus occupying 85 % of total population are screaming, but the government pays no heed to it. The situation is like this only because we are not united. If we unitedly put all our votes for one party, everything will be set aright. Shankaracharya should be entrusted with the responsibility to decide whom to vote for and issue 'whips' to cast all our votes accordingly. By this whichever party comes to power will be compelled to respect our words.

Ashok Sahu, President, Hindu Jagaran Samukhya (former DG, Police Assam):

[Archbishop] Raphael Cheenath, President, Loka Sangram Dalit Manch and John Doyal have hands behind the murder of Laxmanananda.

Gouri Prasad Rath, General Secretary, VHP:

Now Orissa is run under demonic prowess. The sadhus and sanths were arrested for no reason. They were not allowed to have darshan (see) to Sri Ram temple. The Police should beg apology for insulting the Hindu community in Orissa by arresting the sadhus and saints. As we were not allowed to hold condolence (sradhhanjali) rally, henceforth we'll never allow anybody to hold peace rallies here. Unless the killers of Swamiji are arrested, there will be no peace in Orissa.

Ashok Tiwary, VHP's Akhil Bharatiya Dharma Jagaran Pramukh; Ramanuj Das Moharaj, Chintamani Parbat Maharaj, Mahanta Raghubir Das Maharaj, Mahanta Ram Charan Das Maharaj, Mahant Ramakrishna Das Maharaj, Sankarananda Maharaj, Mahant Narayan Baba, Brahmachari Jiban Chaitanya Maharaj, Swami Prana Swarupananda Maharaj have taken vow – The Christians will be wiped out from Kandhamal.

27 Year Old Man Beaten & Buried Alive!

How 27 Year Old Rajesh Digal Was Buried Alive by the Mob

Rajesh Digal (27 Yrs), Christian was buried alive near Paburia, under Tikabali Police station in Kandhamal district.

Kamal, brother in law of Rajesh Digal narrates the chilling incident.

Rajesh Digal and and Tunguru Mallick work in Chennai.

On 24th August 2008 they were coming to Bataguda on a home visit but were held up at G. Udaygiri. They could not get any public transport to reach their village Bataguda (situated about 60 km from G.Udagiri) because the VHP had called a Bundh, on account of the death of their leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati. Finally, the two decided to walk it out.

As they had reached Paburia the mob stopped them and asked their identity. They told about themselves but the mob identified Rajesh as a Christian. When they checked his bag, they found a Bible. Thereafter, they started beating him as they pleased and Rajesh fell down.

While Rajesh was being beaten, some others started digging a pit. When they completed digging the pit, they proceeded to bury Rajesh who was still alive.

"Why are you burying me? I am still alive" Rajesh asked.

"Call your Jesus. He will save you" they replied and buried him alive.

Then they caught hold of Tunguru who was watching everything. They poured kerosene on him and set him on fire. But he somehow escaped and ran for his life and reached village where he narrated whatever happened to the villagers and to Mr. Kamal.

Tunguru, who had a narrow escape from being burnt alive, still bears the burn marks on his body.

Rajesh Digal who was buried alive, leaves behind two young girls and an aging mother. The family is in the refugee camp and could not lodge even an FIR to the police.

You Can Live Here Only As Hindus, Christians Told

Kandhamal Christians Under 'Threat' to Convert

Aditi Tandon writes from Kandhamal on The Tribune

The anti-Christian flame in Kandhamal may have become dimmer for a while, but it is far from blown out. Fuelling it is the issue of conversion, which has become a determinant of people’s lives in this part of the country.

Several Christians in 11 blocks of the tribal districts are said to have been “forcibly converted” as Hindus in the past 17 days of mayhem; the rest say they are facing a choice between life and faith.

“The radicals have told us that we can live here only as Hindus. They are giving deadlines to people to convert or be prepared to face the worst. They asked my family to fall in line by 8 pm on September 3. When we did not agree to convert, they razed our properties,” Jitender Digal, a refugee at Bijaya High School camp in Raikia block, told The Tribune.

In Kandhamal, minorities furnish proof of how “force and fear” is being used to deter people from their faith. Lalu Naik of Balliguda block shows this correspondent a letter whose text, he says, the radicals have framed for the Christians to follow. Signed by Lalu’s father Babulal Naik and 10 members of his family, the letter reads: “Shrijukta Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) mahodaya (Respected VHP official), I was a Christian until now, but I voluntarily want to embrace Hinduism.”

The sample, claim refugees, is meant to facilitate Christians’ conversion to Hindu religion. Such letters have been floating around for a fortnight, with covert but stern messages to Christians to convert. The first targets in this “war” of conversion are pastors, now hiding in the relief camps by thousands. Three of them - Samuel Naik, Akhar Digal and Dibya Digal from Raikia and Udaygiri blocks - have already lost their lives in the recent violence. In each case, the killers first asked the victims if they were ready to become Hindus, say relatives.

Samuel Naik’s son Ramesh, who witnessed killings of his father and grandmother, recounts, “They gave three warnings to my father. When he refused to abandon his faith, they slaughtered him. My grandmother met the same fate.” Ramesh is now hiding at the G Udaygiri camp, while his mother Upojini Naik is at the Raikia relief camp, where over 200 pastors are seeking refuge.

Among them are Subodh Naik, Bijay Pradhan, Subodh Digal and Ulkeshan Naik, who claim being on the radicals’ hit list. “They want us to join them and prove our loyalty by attacking churches and killing Christians. They have threatened to eliminate us if we don’t listen to them.” Many pastors are missing or feared dead.

As for forcible conversions, they are mostly reported to be happening in G Udaygiri, Raikia, Tikabali, Chakapad and Balliguda blocks, with Christians now demanding a separate district. Ashok Behera, a camper at Tikabali, says, “We want a district with a Christian collector, a Christian SP and a Christian block development officer. We have lost faith in the system as close to 2,000 Christians have been converted.”

VHP leaders for their part remain adamant as ever, claiming they will “do everything possible to protect the Hindu faith in Orissa.” Kabi Chandra Nath, who assumed charge of the Jalaspeta ashram after Laxmananda Saraswati’s death, goes to the extent of defending the radical stand, saying, “We are not converting anyone. We are simply bringing misguided followers back to the fold.” Never mind the cost.

"I Will Die. But I Won’t Stop Being a Christian"

The Plea for Deliverance on the Lips of Fleeing Christians

WHEN THEY came for Narmada Digal, she wasn’t there. She had fled, five children and mother-inlaw in tow, to the safety of the jungles a kilometre away. So, they set about what she left behind. A framed picture of Jesus, a Bible in Oriya, utensils in the kitchen, some clothes, and linen.

By the time Narmada tiptoed back, her home was gone. What was left was still hot from the ashes, and smoking. The neighbours came to commiserate. Narmada took a good look, stood erect, and pulled her sari over her head. She began to pray.

“Lord, forgive us our sins. Jesus, you are the only one. Save us from our misfortune. Free us, Lord.” The words are tumbling out.

Narmada’s children have joined her. She is weeping as she pleads for deliverance. So is everybody else. It’s a simple bond that no human wrath can sever, a woman and her God. “I will die. But I won’t stop being a Christian,” Narmada says.

Full article (with pictures): In the name of God

Fr. Thomas Pally's Kandhamal Visit Report

Fr. Thomas Pally, Who Visited Kandhamal and Came Back September 7 Reports - To Break the Shackles of Fear

(I know it is not good to begin with excuses. There is no time to edit this report. I have to take the train to Mumbai. If I wait, this report will have to wait till 13th September)

Introduction:

Let me make one thing clear at the outset. This visit was not a fact-finding visit. Of course we kept our eyes, ears, mind and hearts for facts and for a general assessment of the mood of the people. We took notes, did digital documentation. But more than all that for me it was an attempt to break the Shackles of Fear. Fear, yes, fear with in me and with in so many like me both in the religious and secular circles I moved in Bhubaneswar. I had been in Bhubaneswar since 26th. I would not have forgiven myself if I had not gone to Kandhamal. It is true every one advised against it. But the risk had to be taken. If anything happened to me then we would know that the danger is for real. If I returned safe then we could all make a start in reaching out to those out there. It was a risk worth taking.

12.30 hrs 5th September 2008

We - Bibhuti, his friend Mrutyunjai, Tapan the driver and me - left Bhubaneswar by 12.30 hrs on 5th September. We drove towards Berhampur. At Kalighat took the road to Daringbadi. We were in Daringbadi by 21.00 hrs. The town was completely deserted as there was a night curfew in place. The security seems to have trusted the people there. There was not even one security in sight. We spent the night at Jagruti, an NGO. (They are now engaged in relief work in Raikia)

06.30 hrs 6th September 2008

We left Daringbadi after interacting with people at the tea shop at the town centre. There were no signs of any tension. People seemed to be going about their normal activity. We were heading towards Baliguda, via Nuagam. Daringbadi block was not much affected by the riot more so the town of Daringbadi .

03.08.00 hrs Simanbadi 6th September 2008-09-07

Simanbadi did not seem normal only for the reason there were gun toting CRPF personnel on the road. As we got down one officer came forward and wanted to verify our identity - the only time an official asked for it. He was polite and told us that one company was posted in and around that area. The people were friendly. I am told that is an area which has majority Christian population. There was no disturbance in the area.

09.00 hrs Kudupakia (Sirtiguda) 40 km from Daringbadi

The first signs of violence were evident there. There were burnt houses along the road. There are around 50 families out of them 12 only are Hindus. But the attack was done egged on by those that gathered from Sirtiguda. On the main road the Hindus and Christians were together in talking to the team and seemed comfortable with each other. This was a surprise to me. Away from the crowd Christians told that they fear renewed attack. There was no sign of any police personnel any where near by.

09.30 hrs K.Nuagam

This was the place where Fr.Thomas Chellan was dragged out of house where he had taken shelter after the pastoral centre was attacked. He was the director. He was dragged out beaten very cruelly, stripped and kerosene was poured over him to burn him. This was also the place where Sr.Meena who helps in the centre was also assaulted, allegedly raped and taken half naked to the nearly police station. "We checked the facts with people who came around. They said all that is true. One redeeming thing in the whole incident is that it is not the police that saved them. When some almost lit the match stick to set fire to Fr.Thomas some good Hindus stopped them from that heinous crime. We asked if it is safe for Fr.Thomas to come back. They said "the good people may not be always around!!"

We could not enter either Jana Vikas, the diocesan Social Action Centre nor the Pastoral centre as the gates were all locked from inside and outside. The building from outside do not give a vandalised look. But knowing the way the fanatics work the interiors all will be burnt out. In front the pastoral centre and by the side of Jan Vikas we could see the burnt out four-wheeler.

Two churches - one small and another large were both vandalised and the roof completely done in. Houses were in the interior area and we knew there would not be time to reach out to the interior area.

10.30 hrs Balliguda

Balliguda had seen the vandalsation of three very important and big Catholic institutions during the last violence. This time the damage was token, The mob only wanted to make a statement - that we can do what we want. Only some stones were thrown and some few articles from kitchen etc taken out and burnt. We could not enter in.

While taking breakfast we found the town going about as though everything was normal. There was rush to the bank probably because the bank had been closed because there were two holidays the preceding days and also curfew restrictions had been imposed earlier. For the rest it was business as usual but for the sight of some security personnel.

11.00 hrs. Baliguda Nuasai

The Hindus and Christians live in this hamlet very close to Baliguda. As the crowd advanced most people left the houses including the Hindus and went off to the forest. We noticed that all the houses were not destroyed in a row. The houses were selected for destruction. The dwellings of Hindus and Christians are mixed. The Christian houses were targeted. The leaders that led the crowd seemed to have done their home work well.

12.30 hrs. Barakhama

This was the town that had witnessed a very high level of violence during the last riot. The Christians unlike the other villages and towns had resisted strongly the attack initially. Two people had died last time. This time too two people were killed: Ajit Kumar Digal (22)alias D.Francis and Praful Kumar Naik (45). Ajit was the elder son of Darath Digal and Nimothi Digal. The couple have three other chidren - Muhammad Digal, Topoi Digal and Kamini Digal. Ajit was shot dead by country fire arm and Praful was beaten to death a little away from his own house. He is buried near the spot he was killed.

The town has around 7000 people and 2000 are Christians. There is a long standing feud over land in the village between the Adivasis who are mainly Hindus and Panos (dalits) who are Christians. The Adivasis accuse the Panos of having encroached their land.

Lily of the Forest:

The villagers said a large crowd over 3000 attacked them from all sides on 26th at around 15.00 hrs. Minaki, 9 months pregnant also ran to the forest along with the others. She delivered a girl baby on 29th ,the third day in the forest. She named her Lily.

There is an apology of a relief camp in the forest right now. But there seem to be plans for better lay out in the future. Right now 2000 are scattered in primary school buildings. There are no tents to take shelter from the inclemency of the weather. People make do with the veranadha, shade of the tree, or just sitting around trees, on the road etc. Cooked food is served twice a day.

Kartic Nayak, who has just completed his degree studies had taken photos the aftermath of the attacks and made the same available to us on a CD.

14.00 hrs Nuagam

We returned via Nuagam and when we reached there a lot of people were on the road. We were informed that a young married woman just died after being bitten by snake - allegedly in the forest where she had taken refuge - and the dead body was just being brought home from the hospital. As we were interacting with the people the body was brought and the scene was indeed heartrending. Her husband Saryo Nayak and relatives were in a shock. There was also talk that she died not in the forest.

We visited the relief camp by the side of the road. There were several security personnel. The situation was like the earlier camp, the facilities minimal, really not worth enumerating. Again no tents, poor sanitation. Food twice a day seems to be the set standard. 1200 are in the camp where one would expect to find just over 200 people.

15.00 hrs Raikia

There are supposed to be 3 camps, two only have been set up. One in the Block office building and one in school. We visited the Block office building where Jana Vikas staff are also taking shelter. The building can take in a maximum of 200. There are over 2000 spilling over to the verandha, the grounds around. Again the standard two meals a day. I found two health workers. The NGO Jagruti is helping out in the camp. Mr. Kailash was there at the site. I am told the one in charge of the camp is a good officer. When we were there some philanthropists had some relief materials from Puri. People and organisations can bring in relief materials. They have to reported to the Collector and the relief officer directs to the place he feels it is most needed.

We interacted with the staff of Jana Vikas. More people are expected to join the camp. The total number is expected go beyond 6000.

16.30 hrs Tiangia

Travelling to Tiangia we passed through Gattumaha where 10 houses by the road side were burnt down. All Christian houses.

Then the church at Lakebali was also vandalised.

By the side of Tiangia stood Majumma. The village has altogether 50 houses of whom 15 are Christians. All the houses were demolished either partially or fully.

Tiangia was the only place we met with some resistance and we could not reach the hamlet. We took a photo of a vandalised church at the entrance to the village. Immediately we were challenged by voices from a nearby hillock over looking the village. A group of Bajrang Dals volunteers descended from the hill. Bibhuti asked me not to come along. He walked towards the group and met them two furlongs from where I stood. Bibhuti told me later that they were very aggressive, agitated. They alleged that the Christians had murdered Mr. Dasrath Pradan who was a dalit. They felt aggrieved that no one was listening to them. Bibhuti came back after nearly half an hour and advised me no to proceed to the village. Two of the Bajrang dal men too came to the vehicle. We parted being civil to each other. I was disappointed for not being able to reach the place I had badly wanted to reach. That village was the native village of a priest colleague of mine from Archbishop's house. I wanted to go to their house and reassure them. But that was not to be.

I checked with Fr. Manoj - the priest from the village. There is another side to the story, just the opposite. They allege that Dasrath was killed by Hindus as he had earlier been a Christian and though converted back to Hinduism had been a rising dalit leader and taking up dalti causes. The Hindus killed three others in the village. This was not shared by them to the Bibhuti. So where does the truth really lie?

17.30 hrs Vis Sankharkole to Phulbani the capital of Kandhamal

We left for Sankarkole. The convent there was vandalised again. We could not visit the village as the village was not on the road side. We were informed that there would be curfew in Phulbani afer 18.00 hrs.

18.00 hrs Lunch at Phulbani

We halted for lunch but after lunch the curfew had begun and also it was dark and was not possible to make inquiries regarding the riot and we left for Bhubaneswar via Daspalla, Nayagad, Khorda and reached Bhubaneswar by 00.30hrs 07th September 2008.

So what did the visit achieve?

It was the first visit into the riot torn area by any from our circle of friends both secular and religious. It helped to assess the situation.

The situation is not normal. At the same time is not something one can not handle if one wants to reach out to the affected.

Relief camp situation is pathetic to say the least. A quantum leap is to be done to give it even a semblance of giving relief and protection.

In some villages people continue to live in fear. They think they could be attacked any time - Kudupakia, Barkhama. Barkhama people say that they want to relocate themselves entirely.

Police protection but for some town areas and large villages is minimal and anti-social elements and fundamentals will easily take advantage.

Cases are not being registered just like the last time. We need to be prepared for a very, very long haul at the legal front.

Medical assistance, counsellors, community organisors need to be present with those in the camp and those living outside need to be strengthened.

Restoration of assets through compensation mechanisms, livelihood restoration need to undertaken soon.

Conclusion

It has been a redeeming experience for me. To go and share their life even in passing made meaning to me. I just wanted to go there, to listen, to see, to feel with them and assure them that although they can not see us, there are millions who care for their safety, security and welfare. And are doing there at most each one in her / his own way to make that possible. We had to assure ourselves that they are told and assure them that they have not been abandoned just to the mercy of the state and the rampaging mobs.

That to some measure, a very small measure we had been able to do. I hope the visit acts as a catalyst.

Priest's Brother Forced to 'Reconvert'

Catholic Priest's Brother Forced to 'Reconvert' to Hinduism

Christians in Orissa face the choice between their Faith and Homes. While the State's police have been mere spectators in the continuing mayhem, survivors have been forced to flee to the state capital Bhubaneshwar.

Catholic priest Fr. Prabodha Kumar who reached the state capital received a troubling news report about his brother back home. Compass Direct reports:

Among those who have fled to Bhubaneswar was Father Prabodha Kumar, a Catholic priest who reached the Catholic Archbishop's House in Bhubaneswar after a seven-day journey from Onjamundi village in Kandhamal.

He was among other fearful sojourners at the house whose mobile phones constantly rang with news of more attacks from their relatives, friends and church members in interior villages of Kandhamal.

Fr. Kumar looked deeply troubled after one such phone call yesterday.

"My brother has been forced to 'reconvert' to Hinduism, as he was told that if he did not do so, his house would be destroyed," he said.

"We Were Not Allowed to Enter": Shabnam Hashmi

Shabnam Hashmi, Managing Trustee and Executive Secretary of Act Now for Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD), member of the National Integration Council of India's Ministry of Home Affairs and a Council Member of the National Literacy Mission reports on the situation in Orissa:

Visit To Orissa

By Shabnam Hashmi

06 September, 2008

I went to Orissa for two days as part of a delegation. We were not allowed to enter Kandhamal. We met a large number of victims in Bhubaneshwar, met the governor and the local civil society members as well as priests of various churches.

Visit to Kandhamal next week depends on the fact whether the Govt will permit us to go there or not. VHP’s Togadia has been allowed to go and add more fuel to the fire.

This account is based on the testimonies of:

8 priests and over 300 families who hid in thick forests without water and food, with small hungry children, with thousands of mosquitoes and other insects and who walked over 280 kilometers to reach Bhubaneshwar with just the set of clothes that they were wearing. It took them 5 days to reach the city.

It is not safe to give the names or addresses of those who testified before us as even now VHP and the other Sangh organisations are still attacking the villages , burning houses, shops and churches, catching people, tonsuring them, forcing them to sign that they have become Hindus.

It is an Indian tradition to talk with respect about those who have departed from this world. Pray that their soul may rest in peace.

Swami Laxmananda Saraswati was killed on August 23rd, 2008 at the VHP ashram in Jalespata, Kandhamal, Orissa. A large number of organisations across India condemned the attack and his killing.

While condemning every violent act and his killing there is a need to look at his work and message before making him a martyr.

The swami came to Kandhamal in 1969. He travelled from village to village initially contacting the business community, organising poojas and bhajans, which very soon turned into inflammatory messages against the local Christian community. Initially in 1970es the attacks came on smaller villages. The first organised attack came in 1987. People from 6-7 villages were collected together to attack a village which had a large Christian population. Under his leadership 16 churches were burnt down in 1986-87. There were 56 cases registered for this but Swami was not arrested. Not even under the ‘secular’ governments. The sheer fact that none of the political parties touched him, due to their deep concern for the ‘Hindu’ vote, he got emboldened and his campaigns became more aggressive and vicious.

While Christians were attacked using the bogey of conversion, the VHP and the swami spearheaded the campaign to forcibly convert local animistic Tribals and Christian Tribals into Hindus, calling it ghar wapsi or reconversion as if the tribals were ever in the Hindu fold.

On January 22, 1999 Graham Stains and his two young sons were burnt to death by a Sangh sponsored mob in Keonjhar district of Orissa. Same year in September another Christian priest was killed in the village Jamudhi , also in Keonjhar district.

After Graham Stains was murdered by the Sangh goons instead of condemning the murder the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee asked for a national debate on conversion and within a week of that VHP printed and distributed over 5 million pamphlets full of vicious propaganda against the Christian minority. Similarly when the whole drama of the Shabri Kumbh was going on in the dang district of Gujarat where also Christians have been under attack since 1998, the VHP distributed vicious Cds against Christians. The distribution of the CDs was challenged by us in the Supreme Court through a PIL. Under the garb of doing educational and development work the sangh has opened Vanvasi Kalyan Ashrams and Ekal Vidyalaya throughout the tribal belts in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Orissa. The VHP alone has over one lakh workers in Orissa. There are approximately 6000 RSS shakhas.

On December 24, 2007 violence broke out over Christmas celebrations in Kandhamal district. Attackers from VHP/ RSS came with axes, rods etc. hundreds of houses, Christian institutions, businesses, and properties were attacked and raised to the ground in the violence that continued for over a month. For years the administration has ignored the hate campaigns and the violence against the Christians. The VHP has not only been in the fore front of these violent attacks but has sowed the seeds of hatred by distributing highly provocative material against the Christian community.

Swami Laxmananda Saraswati was killed on August 23rd, 2008 allegedly by Maoists. VHP declared a bandh on August 25, 2008. His body was taken in a procession travelling close to 150 kilometers accompanied by a VHP mob and the police and administration. It stopped in front of many churches, raising highly abusive and provocative slogans, attacking the churches, Christian institutions breaking glasses, furniture, attacking people, while the police looked on including the highest officers of the state and the district.

After the December 2007 violence many organisations had come together and worked for relief and fought legal battles for the victims. Such organisations and individuals were especially targeted. Janvikas office was attacked thrice. All five organisations fighting for Dalit human rights were attacked: Janvikas, Gramiya Progoti, Pobara, Pollishree, Ajka. Tribal leaders heading the Dalit Adivasi Vikas Initiative, Phulbani Action Group and Forum for Peace and Justice were attacked. All shops were attacked. The initial number of attackers was 200-300 which swelled to 500-600. The mob comprised of mainly he business community led by hard core VHP leaders. AS the mob moved from one village to the second the number increased as local Sangh members kept adding to the mob. Some tribals also joined the attackers. Dasrath Pradhan died on the spot and Trinath Digal, who had taken out his goats for grazing was chased and his head was smashed with a stone. He died. Vikram Naik was attacked. He died after 3 days. Parikrit Naik was attacked on 25th. He managed to run and hide in the forest. After two days in the forest he decided to escape to safety. He was caught again and attacked, hacked into two and burnt.

People were taken out from their homes and huddled together and forced to sign the papers that they are becoming Hindus or face the consequences.

In Mondosore village around 10am on August 24th people from nearby villages gathered with knives, swords, weapons and collected near a temple about 1km away from the village. They were shouting provocative and abusive slogans against the Christians and inciting people to attack them. The mob blocked all the routes for going out from the village by felling huge logs and tree trunks on the roads. A huge mob gathered by now near the Shiv temple. The priest and nuns from the church ran to the jungle but they came back at 7pm once it was dark. Some people advised them to leave so they went to padri village. But the mobs came to know about their hiding places and they had to leave again, this time splitting in two groups and changing their hiding places but with no luck. No place was safe. The people who gave them shelter, including local tribals, their lives were threatened. The priest was escorted by a local man with a knife to the forest after crossing a stream. During the night about 60 women and children came to the same forest to hide and the nuns from the church also found their way to the forest hiding place. There was a hut nearby where everyone crowded in but there was no place even to sit. Around midnight the church bell started ringing. This was a signal that things were not right. The whole group moved to another area near the village but still under cover. They could see the village shops on fire, they could hear small bombs, shouting & screaming. More people came towards the forest to escape the attack. Through them came the news of shops belonging to Christians being burnt and one person was killed by the attackers.

Around 6am the priest, 4 nuns and two orphan children decided to move to another place. They started walking, climbing mountains. Till 3 pm they walked for10kilometers and not reaching anywhere. Then they decided to rather die than get lost in the forest. When they came out they were near village Koroda. The people stared at them and they thought the end was near when a person on a motorcycle came and stopped near them. He was well built and there was a thin person at the back. The motorcyclist was a Hindu while the pillion rider a Christian. He took turns to transport them to a safer place in turns from where they managed to reach Bhubaneshwar.

Another priest from the Phulbani headquarters expecting trouble after the swami’s killing transferred all the records to his Hindu friends’ houses. When the procession with the dead body arrived he hid in a nearby house while the others were asked to leave and hide behind the church. Sunday morning mob of 4000 people accompanied the procession. It was 7.30am. DIG, Collector, Police accompanied the procession. The mob broke the wall, smashed everything in the church and the residence. They started throwing stones. It was after some stones hit the police that they started a mild lathi charge. Local youth searched for the priest, nuns and other workers. Around 9am another lot came and started banging he door. Some of the boys who wee hiding came out and they were immediately beaten. The priest hid in a broken toilet. The mob came to the house where they were told he was hiding but never checked the toilet so he was saved. After one hour he came out on the road and asked for shelter in a house. Three houses refused, forth gave him shelter. The mob almost immediately reached there. The owners hid him in the kitchen but their house was attacked and broken down. Mob left only after 9pm. After they left the priest rushed to his house. His land phone was ringing and his assistant was on the line. He was hiding in the forest. Using a ladder the priest jumped behind the church and with the help of the light from the mobile phone found his was into the forest. Tuesday morning they started moving to another place in the forest when they by chance came across a hut belonging to a Hindu woman whom the priest had helped earlier. She and her daughter took them in, prepared food for them and fed them.

27th morning at 4 am they again went back to the church and contacted every taxi service but no one agreed to take them. Then the news came that another father is severely beaten and is being rushed to Bhubaneshwar in an ambulance. The same ambulance brought them to the city along with the patient.

We were able to talk to a few of the hundreds of women, children and men who ran from various villages and hid in the forests for days without food. They were from 15 different villages but the stories were the same. Their houses were attacks by mobs ranging from 300-500 people-all from the surrounding gram panchayats and villages. They came with axes and knives, with diesel, blocked all exit roots so that no one could escape in any vehicle. Burnt down houses, attacked churches, burnt tyres on the roads, beat up people. A young woman said that they have been told very clearly that they will be allowed into the village if and only if they become Hindus. She reached Bhubaneshwar on 31st along with others from the village, walking over 200 kilometres. Many of the victims narrated that the violence broke out with the arrival of the swami’s body in each village. In all instances police was present with the procession.

This account is based only on the testimonies for those who managed to escape and reach Bhubaneshwar. The situation is very serious in Orissa and only a full fact finding team can come out with full details after it is allowed to enter those areas.

"'Father They Are Going to Burn Me": Rajni's Last Words

Rajni' Death is a Deep Wound in my Heart

Fr. Edward, Survivor of Arson in Orissa Recalls How Rajni Was Burnt to Death

Fr. Edward Sequeira SVD

Fr Edward Sequeira, one of the victims of the violence committed by Hindu radicals in Orissa, does not hesitate to call them "terrorists". Groups connected to Sangh Parivar seized him, beat him for more than an hour, and then shut him inside a room that they set on fire. Fr Edward was able to save himself by taking shelter in the bathroom. Before he passed out, he heard the screams of Rajni Majh, who was tied up and thrown into the flames, where she was burned to death.

Initial reports said that she was a sister, then a lay missionary. Fr Edward explains that the girl was one of the many orphans he had rescued, and that she lived and worked in the orphanage he had founded.

Fr Edward is unable to hold back the tears, and begins sobbing when he talks about her. The crowd of fanatics may have thought that Rajni was one of the many people they believe have been forced to convert through "Christian proselytism". "'She was only a simple Hindu girl", the priest says, "studying in the plus 3 class. I can still hear her voice, 'Father they are going to burn me', these were her last words to me, after this I lost consciousness". Her death "is a deep wound in my heart".

Hindu fundamentalists have long been conducting a campaign against conversions to Christianity, and against evangelization. For Fr Edward, 58, missionary activity is something that upholds the dignity of the person. He spoke to Asianews:

"I have been working among lepers in Padampur in Bargarh district for the past ten years. I realized that, given the preference for a male child in rural Indian communities, parents many times have more than 4-5 daughters before a son is born - and unfortunately, these girls are rarely sent to school, they are made to graze cattle or even sent at early age as domestic workers or to the landlords, and many girls suffer from malnutrition.

"So I started a very small hostel-orphanage for girls, to give them opportunity and dignity through education and vocational training.

"One such girl in my orphanage was Rajni Majhi, who was born to Hindu parents who already had 5 or 6 daughters, and they gave her up for adoption to a Hindu tribal childless couple. Sadly, when the adopted parents after a few years conceived biological children, they began ill-treating and discriminating against Rajni, and in this reality she came to my orphanage four years ago. Within a few months, she was bubbling with life, the younger girls called her “Nanni’ (big sister), and besides studying in college in her 13th year, Rajni would be like a governess to the children.

"All the development programmes for these leprosy patients and the other dalits have all been for Hindus. More than 25 years I have worked in Orissa, and not a single person have I converted to Christianity".

Hatred of Christianity and personal development is what drives radical Hindu groups to try to wipe out the presence of Christians and their institutions. "Who says that terrorists are only those who plant bombs and carry guns? This was a terrorist attack on Orissa. What about these Sangh Parivar members, who have been given the license to kill, destroy and plunder their fellow citizens? This was sheer terrorism unleashed on the Christians in Kandhmal district".

Fr Edward explains what happened to him: "On Monday August 25th, around 1.30 pm, as I was having lunch, there was a knock on the door. When I opened it, a huge crowd of more than 500 people were outside and asked 'Who is the priest?'. This is nothing strange, as often people come requesting my help, for my vehicle to drive them to a hospital or other such emergencies. As soon as I identified myself, they raised their arms holding all the weapons - axes, shovels, spades and iron rods.They took me outside in the courtyard and began hitting me, screaming abuses at Christianity and shouting 'Bajrang Bali Ki Jai; Yesu Christi Murdabada; Hail Lord Hanuman (editor's note: a Hindu god with the face of a monkey), destroy, eliminate Jesus Christ', beating me on my head, back, all over my body.

"The extremists thrashed me for nearly an hour (editor's note: Fr Edward still has bruises all over his body, and five wounds on his back).

"Then they entered my room, collected all the clothes and books and whatever they laid their hands on and piled it in the centre of the room, threw some kerosene on the pile, and some crude oil, and threw some gelatine sticks which they had brought with them and lit the fire and threw me into the flames and locked the door from the outside.

"Somehow, I was not frightened, there was definitely the divine presence in the burning room, and I went into the bathroom and locked myself in and shut all the windows. The whole room was engulfed in thick smoke and flames.

"The attackers were shouting Bajrang Bali Ki Jai; Yesu Christi Murdabada, and hurling abuses. They went to the garage and burned the vehicle, I could hear some of them on the roof setting fire from the top. Thick smoke was in the bathroom, where I was hiding, it was dark and full of thick smoke, and as I inhaled the smoke my only concern was for the children.

Rajni Majhi Who Was Thrown into the Fire by the Mob

"In the meanwhile, the children and Rajni, who witnessed the mob assaulting me, took the children inside their own orphanage room which is next to mine and bolted the door from the inside. The men who had climbed onto the roof entered the room and dragged Rajni outside with the children - some of the children escaped. They brought her outside my bathroom window. I could hear the cries of Rajni, and the mob was cheering and shouting through the window. These criminals tied her hands together - they made a huge bonfire in the orphanage room and threw her onto the fire. They used sickles, shovels and other weapons to prevent her from running away, these extremists did not allow her to even move from the burning flames".

See Separate Story: How 20 Year Old Rajni Was Burnt to Death by a Cheering Mob

"If They See Me They Will Kill Me": Fr. Ashish

"They Said They Would Kill us Because We Were Christians"

Priest Recounts Terror in Orissa

Fr Ashish Missale who fled into the forests, recounts to Times, his frightening encounter with the murderous mob:

"I was conducting a prayer meeting in Orissa's Makandapur village when more than 300 Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists arrived with lathis , swords, guns, spears and trishuls. They said they would kill us because we were Christians,'' said Fr Ashish Missale who fled the murderous mob to spend two days in wilderness.

Recounting the ordeal to the media on Tuesday, Fr Missale said how one of the devotees was done to death right in front of his eyes. "They hit Mukund Bardhan on his head. They then flung him in the air and stabbed him. His cry still pierces my ears."

Armed with slides-each of which depicts death and destruction in the villages of Orissa-Missale narrated how he, along with the other devotees, fled after the VHP attack. "Children were crying and we were all afraid. We didn't know what would happen to us," he said. They spent two days in fear and unsure of their safety. Fr Missale then reached his district headquarters where he was instructed to come to Mumbai. He arrived on Monday evening.

Fr Missale now gets calls and SMSes from the VHP. "They say that if they see me, they will kill me on the spot." Filing an FIR in Orissa has become very difficult as the police are on the side of the perpetrators, Missale said.

How They Went About Burning Houses

Christian Homes Burnt Down

Hindu Part of the Village Untouched

A burnt doll is seen outside a Christian home at Suleswar village in Orissa August 31, 2008. (Picture Courtesy: Reuters)

Reuters reports:

On a starry night last week, as Lal Mohan Digal prepared to go to bed, a mob of raging, machete-wielding Hindu zealots appeared above the hills of his mud house and swarmed over this bucolic hamlet in Orissa.

By dawn, Christian homes in the village were smoking heaps of burnt mud and concrete shells. Churches were razed, their wooden doors and windows stripped off.

"We could hear them come shouting 'Jai Shri Ram'," Digal said, referring to the rallying cry of Hindus hailing their warrior-god.

The mob poured kerosene on the thatched rooftops of the village homes, then threw matches. Church spires were hacked down.

The Hindu part of the village was untouched. For four days Digal and his stricken Christian neighbours hid in the teak forests, before being herded to a government-run relief camp.

The violence replicated itself in village after village, as the rural Kandhamal district of Orissa convulsed from some of the worst anti-Christian attacks in India.

3,000 Forcible "Re-Conversions" to Hinduism

Hindu Activists Forcibly "Re-converting" Christians to "Original Religion"

Christian leaders said Hindu activists had forced about 3,000 Christans in riot-affected parts of the state to renounce their religion in the past few days while Hindu leaders maintain the conversions were voluntary.

The GCIC Persecution website has a report:

"Armed Hindu activists are raiding the villages and threatening them with violence if they do not convert to Hinduism immediately. We can prove that Christians are being forcibly converted to Hinduism in Kandhamal [the riot-hit Orissa district]," said Sajan K George, the national president of the Global Council of the Indian Christians in Bhubaneshwar, Orissa's state capital.

"Fearing for their lives, the poor Christians are taking part in the rituals of conversion to Hinduism. For the past week, in many villages, Hindu activists have been conducting forced conversions," he said.

"The most unfortunate fact is that everything is happening under the nose of the authorities. Despite our appeals neither the state government nor the local police have done anything to protect the Christians."

Hindu leaders say that their ongoing Hindu "homecoming" ceremonies are being attended voluntarily by Christians.

From Violence to Conversions:

While in the first few days after the Saraswati's death, Hindus resorted to violence against Christians, since a strict curfew they have changed their strategy and begun organising conversions ceremonies virtually at gunpoint.

According to Christian leaders, Hindu activists have even entered the forests where some Christians are hiding to force them to go through the Hindu conversion rituals.

"Truckloads of [Hindu] militants from neighbouring states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have entered the area to back up the VHP [Viswa Hindu Parishad or World Hindu Council] campaign. Armed with bombs, swords and guns these VHP militants are pouncing on poor, weak and defenceless Christians," said Mr Sajan George.

"They have already killed 43 innocent Christians in this violence. In the past four days at least 3,000 Christians have been forcibly converted to Hinduism. Villagers cowering in fear are giving in to their threats and going through the [Hindu] rituals. It is inhuman," added Mr Sajan George.

Babu Joseph, another Christian leader, said Hindu activists were shouting slogans in praise of Hinduism and shouting that they would "reconvert" Christians throughout the country.

Grandmother Dies Without Medicine, Denied Christian Burial, Cremated:

Kabita Naik, a 22-year-old Christian girl who fled from her village of Raikia on Friday, said her seriously sick grandmother died after Hindu activists besieged her village and refused to let the family buy medicines from the nearby town.

"When the body of my grandmother was taken to the Christian burial ground by our [Christian] neighbours, the Hindu activists forcibly took away the body and burnt it [as the Hindus do]. They said, 'you are all Hindus and this Christian burial ground is not meant for your dead'," Ms Naik said, her voice wavering with emotion.

Surajen Underwent Hindu Ritual For the Sake of Crying Wife and Children:

Surajen Naik, 45, wrote in a letter to a relative in Bhubaneshwar that Hindus were destroying the church in his village of Phiringia. He said that he, as well as other villagers, ran into the forest to hide.

"Armed with knives and guns they [Hindu activists] entered the forest and said they would kill and dump our bodies in the river if we don't convert.

"My children and wife were all crying in fear and I agreed to take part in the ritual ... the accompanying [Hindu] priests chanted hymns and washed our feet with 'holy' water they were carrying and said 'from today you are Hindus again and can return to your village'."

Saved from the Fires: Fr. Edward Sequeira

Fr. Edward Sequeira SVD Rescued from Burning Narrates the Trauma

Picture of Fr. Edward Sequeira SVD

Fr. Edward Sequeira SVD reached Hyderabad early on August 30th morning after an 8 hours gruelling journey by road from Sambalpur hospital where he was undergoing treatment after he was rescued from the burning inferno that took the life of 19 year Hindu girl Rajni Majhi. His lungs have been badly affected due to inhaling for more than two hours smoke polluted air. He has been taken to Mumbai where he will be close to his family and receive the urgent medical care he needs.

He recounts his traumatic story:

"It all began around 13.00 hrs" he recalled. "I was having lunch at my single room presbytery that doubles as office, bedroom and store room. The doors were closed. I heard some one calling out, 'Father, Father.' Thinking that some one was there with some patients needing to be taken to hospital I opened the door and came out.

There was a crowd of about 20 people crowding before my room. They suddenly pulled out from behind their backs, iron rods, lathies, and wooden pieces. They started thrashing me. They wanted to me to shout 'Yesu Christu Murdabad' (Death to Jesus Christ) 'Bajrang Bali Ki Jai' (Long Live Bajrang Bali).

They continued thrashing me and then pushed me back into the room, poured diesel on the floor, some fell on by clothes and set the place on fire and bolted the room from outside.

I slipped on the diesel soaked floor, some how managed to reach the bath room where providentially there were two buckets of water - we do not have running water - and poured it all across the room. Without making much noise I bolted from inside all the doors and windows under cover of billowing smoke."

Dr. Sr. Marykutty of Handmaids of Mary who nursed him all through this stay at the hospital and then accompanied him filled in with the remaining details.

"The previous evening Fr. Edward was in a town around 300 kilometers away and when he heard of the killing of the Swamy he decided to rush back to the hostel as the kids were alone in the care of Rajani.

She had been given in adoption by her Hindu biological parents. As soon as the adopted parents got children of their own Rajani's life changed. Her natural parents refused to receive her back when the adopted parents started neglecting her and pulled her out of school for working in the house.

The sisters found her a place at father's hostel so that she could continue her studies. She had completed her plus two and had been sort of a boarding mistress to the children of leprosy patients for whom the hostel was being run.

People had advised Fr. Edward not to return to the hostel. But he knew his children needed him. And that is what he decided to do - to return to the hostel.

After locking up Fr Edward in his room the marauding crowd pushed out all the children from where they were hiding in a shed nearby. When Rajini came out running, she was tied up and thrown back in the fire!

20 Year Old Rajni Majhi Burnt to Death by the Mob
[See Separate Story: How 20 Year Old Rajni Was Burnt to Death]

Fr. Edward told me that he sees the hand of God in all this. "He has plans for me, He kept me alive."

Pregnant Lady Cut to Pieces in Orissa

7 Month's Pregnant, Kamalini Naik Cut into Pieces for Her Faith

As narrated by an independent writer:

Mrs. Kamalini Naik's husband was asked to become a Hindu for which the fanatics threatened to kill his mother. Seeing his mother under their grip Mr. Naik denounced his faith.

Then they called his wife Kamalini Naik who was 7 months pregnant. She strongly stood for her faith in Christ and immediately the fanatics cut her into pieces and her one and half year son in front of her husband and other Christians.

"They Ordered Me to Have Sex with the Nun": Fr. Chellen

Fr. Thomas Chellen Describes the Orissa Mob Ordeal

Picture of Fr. Thomas Chellen

Fr. Thomas Chellen, director of the pastoral center that was destroyed with a bomb, had a narrow escape after a Hindu mob nearly set him on fire. Currently undergoing treatment at a Catholic hospital in Orissa's capital Bhubaneswar, Fr. Chellen had this horrifying experience to share with Catholic News Service:

"They had poured kerosene on my head, and one held a matchbox in his hands to light the fire. But thanks to divine providence, in the end, they did not do that. Otherwise, I would not have been there to tell this horror," the 55-year-old priest, director of the pastoral center at Konjamendi in the Indian state of Orissa, told Catholic News Service in a telephone interview from his hospital bed Aug. 28.

When a Hindu mob of 500 people broke into the pastoral center around noon Aug. 24, Father Chellen said he fled through the backyard with another priest and a nun.

"It was heartbreaking for us to watch from a distance the entire complex go up in smoke," said Father Chellen, who had supervised the construction of the center that opened in 2001 and could accommodate 200 people.

"They vandalized everything and set it on fire. It has been reduced to ashes," he added.

As the three watched from a distance, some other priests told them to flee.

"We fled to the jungles and came in the night to take shelter in the house of a Hindu friend and spent the night there," Father Chellen said, adding that the second priest left them to join other priests.

The following morning, he said, the Hindu family moved the priest and nun to an adjacent vacant house and locked it to give the impression that no one was inside.

However, the Hindu mobs overheard the priest speaking on his cell phone, broke into the room and dragged him and the nun outside.

"They began our crucifixion parade," said Father Chellen. The gang of about 50 armed Hindus "beat us up and led us like culprits along the road" to the burned pastoral center.

"There they tore my shirt and started pulling off the clothes of the nun. When I protested, they beat me hard with iron rods. Later, they took the sister inside (and) raped her while they went on kicking and teasing me, forcing (me) to say vulgar words," said the priest who has cuts, bruises and swollen tissue all over his body and stitches on his face.

"Later both of us, half-naked, were taken to the street, and they ordered me to have sex with the nun in public, saying nuns and priests do it. As I refused, they went on beating me and dragged us to the nearby government office. Sadly, a dozen policemen were watching all this," he said.

Angry at his plea to the police for help, the mob beat the bleeding priest again.

Later, a government official and members of the mob took the priest and the nun to the police station, where Father Chellen said he was kicked in the face.

"The four-hour ordeal ended when a senior police officer arrived in the evening," said Father Chellen.

The priest said one of the most hurtful things about the incident was that some local Hindus whom he knew were watching the events and ignored his requests for help.

Asianews has a follow up story: Orissa: after his calvary Father Thomas willing to go back to serve those who hurt him

Police Refuse Christians Protection

Indian Archbishop Says Police Refuse Christians Protection

In the latest from India, the Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar in the Orissa state, Raphael Cheenath told us Christians are being abducted, and many are seeking refuge in the forest as police say they cannot protect those threatened...

All the priests, religious, and lay leaders are hiding in the forest. Therefore communication with them is also very difficult.

A priest ran up the Archbishop saying he was in the forest for the fourth day without much to eat...

Two priests were kidnapped and taken out from a parish called bubari. There has been no further information about them...

Another priest in-charge of the pastoral centre and a sister working there were apprehended and hid themselves in a house. The miscreants went there, pulled them out, stripped them, molested the nun and paraded them in the market place even as 10 policemen stood and watched...

The police are now saying to convents, churches and institutions: You please run away, we cannot protect you, we don't have enough people, and therefore you go anywhere...

Download and Listen: Police Refuse Christians Protection

20 Year Old Rajni Burnt to Death

How a 20 Year Old Girl Was Burnt to Death Watched by a Cheering Mob

Rajni Majhi (20) who was burnt alive by the mob

Fr. Edward Sequeira, a priest belonging to the Society of Divine Word (SVD), was one of those who was seriously injured when his mission station was attacked by the mob in Orissa.

Currently recuperating at Burla Medical College Hospital, Sambalpur, Fr. Sequeira, upon gaining consciousness, narrated the story to his brother Commodore Valentine Sequeira who writes:

A large mob of more than 700 people were returning after attending the cremation of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati who was killed along with four others Saturday evening by suspected Maoist guerrillas at his Jalespata ashram.

The mob was chanting anti-Christian slogans and when they reached Padampur in Bargarh district, they attacked the orphanage where Fr Edward lived.

Ms. Rajni, a 20 year old student who lived in the orphanage and was also working as an auxiliary nurse in the orphanage confronted them.

When Fr Sequeira arrived at the spot, the mob locked him and Rajni into separate rooms, and ordered the children to vacate the orphanage. The mob then ransacked Fr Sequeira's room, poured petrol on him, Rajni and set the orphanage on fire.

The ruins of the orphange that was burned own.

"I was engulfed in flames, I could hear the cries of Rajni and the mob was cheering and shouting through the windows," recalls Fr Sequeira.

He however, managed to crawl to the bathroom, beat out the flames and closed the windows.

"When I started to suffocate I found a crack on the wall that was damaged in the attack and kept my nose there to breath some air. All the while I could hear the cries of Rajni from the next room where she was writhing in agony. After sometime, there was silence and I thought she must have managed to escape from the room," recalled Fr Sequeira.

Unknown to Fr Edward, the girl was burnt alive and had breathed her last.

Fr. Edward Sequeira SVD recovering in the hospital.

People from the neighborhood who heard the cries of children rushed to the rescue, broke the walls and brought him to safety. That is when the mob attacked him again outside the orphanage and beat him up mercilessly till he became unconscious. He was initially rushed to the hospital at Padampur and later with the help of local officials was shifted to Burla Medical College Hospital, in Sambalpur.

"The cries of Rajni and the guilt of helplessness in saving her life will always haunt me," Fr. Edward sighs.

Full story at Mangalorean.com

ORISSA: Christians in Deep Trouble

Fr. Pius Fernandes SJ, Bhubaneshwar

Fr Pius Fernandes SJ writes from Bhubaneshwar about the incidents at Khandamahal District in Orissa. The burning and looting continues even as he writes this article (Aug 26, 10.00pm).

Bhubaneshwar Aug 26: Violence re-erupted within the Indian state of Orissa today. The attacks performed by Hindu extremist groups are just one link in a long chain of events that have continued to strain Hindu-Christian relations within the state.

Today's attacks were triggered by the killing of a prominent Hindu leader this past weekend. On Saturday, August 23rd, Swami Laxanananda Saraswati along with five other people was shot dead in his Jalaspeta Ashram near Tumudibandha (Kandhamal District, Orissa). Naxalite groups, especially prominent in this region, have taken credit for the attacks. The Swami was 84 years old and was especially known for violently opposing cow slaughter and conversion to Christianity. He is also believed to have orchestrated the Christmas 2007 riot against Christians in the Kandhamal district of Orissa which has left thousands of Christians homeless to this day. Since the December attacks Hindu-Christian relations have remained tense within Kandhamal. In retaliation for the August 23rd killings the VHP and its allied political families called for a bandh (road blockade) for the 25th of August. In the meantime a judicial enquiry is ordered into the incident, though many opposition parties have called for the resignation of Naveen Patnaik's for failing to maintain law and order.

In retaliation for the Swami's death, the extremist wing of the VHP has engaged in a series of attacks against Christians which started on 23 rd and are expected to continue.

On 23rd evening immediately after the news of murder of Swami Laxmanaadada Saraswati spread in the district, two sisters of Precious Blood congregation at Kothaguda who were on their way to Berhampur were stopped near G. Udayagiri, pulled out from the vehicle. Vehicle was then set on fire and the driver was severely beaten up. Almost at the same time a vehicle carrying HM sisters near Ainthapally in Sambalpur, a prayer chapel at Tentuliapadar in Sundargarh was also burned and destroyed. With these incidents, the stories of violence, abuse and attacks continue with several churches, church institutions, priests, Nuns, Christian people and their houses being attacked, abused, ransacked, and torched.

As the impact of the news started getting visible across the state, government got into action by announcing prohibitory orders (144 Section) in Kandhamal district. This was also a preparatory action by the state government ahead of the 12-hour bandh called by the VHP and other affiliates of the Sangh Parivar on 25th august to protest the killing.

On Sunday morning 24th August 2008, prayers in many churches were disrupted with very few participants attending the mass fearing attacks.

From the same day attacks in Kandhamal district intensified. It was the turn of Janvikas office like many other offices which were burnt to ashes during the violence in December 2007. Jan Vikas is a social wing of the Archdiocese of Cuttack Bhubaneswar and works towards empowerment of the most marginalised in the districts. A mob attacked, ransacked the office and set fire burning down three four wheelers, six motor cycles, all the important records and documentation of the organisation and office equipment. This incident took place at 5.30 in the evening.

After this, the mob continued their assaults at Divya Jyoti Pastoral Centre by gutting, burning and looting the same at about 6 p.m. The same group entered the Baliguda presbytery, convent and hostel damaging the properties.

In similar attacks, the Roman Catholic Church at Kanjamedi was attacked and vandalized at 6.30 p.m. The Diocesan Church at Kanjamedi was ransacked and other three Pentecostals churches were destroyed in the same way at 6.45 p.m. by the same group. In the late evening, about 12 Dalit Christian shops were burnt to ashes in Raikia.

On 25th August 2008 as the Bandh lead to many protests, rastha rokos, tyre burning etc., the following incidents of violence shook the whole state and the Christian community. At 7.00 a.m, Phulbani Church and presbytery were vandalized and ransacked. Srasanda MC Brother's residence was attacked and the patients who came there to get treatment were beaten up and the VHP activists continued to burn houses and household articles of Christian families in the area. Eight houses were completely destroyed in this incident.

On the same day at 10.30 a.m houses of Christian families in Christiansahi in Balliguda were destroyed and ransacked. The details of damage and the numbers are not available as yet. In a similar incident houses in Nuasahi were set on fire destroying the whole street where Christian families lived. This incident took place at 11.30 a.m.

Two boys studying in the church run hostel were caught in Baliguda and their heads were tonsured.

In the afternoon at about 1.00 pm Jamaj Parichha's house was attacked and his vehicles were set ablaze, doors were cut into pieces and he was beaten up by the mob. He sustained severe head injury and is hospitalised (place is not disclosed because of the security reasons). It is said that he is one of the primary targets of the hindutva forces in the area. His wife being a Hindu pleaded the mob to spare him and even showed that she practices Hinduism but they showed no mercy continued beating him up and said "he is a Christian and we will kill him".

As this incident happened, houses of the staffs of Jan Vikas (Diocesan organisation under the Arch Diocese of Cuttack- Bhubaneswar) were also burnt. Five staffs are directly affected by this violence and all of them fled their villages and went into hiding.

In a very similar way, at 2 pm the house of Puren Nayak resident of Bhudansahi was attacked and burnt into ashes. All his assets were removed from the house and were set on fire in a pile. . As the violence continued in the village, mob ransacked the Christian houses burnt all their belongings. The women (Hindu) in the community were identifying the houses to be burnt down as the mob followed their instructions. Women also supplied kerosene to encourage the mob.

The strategy used by the mob is very similar. The household articles and assets are brought outside the house and are set on fire. This is because under Indian Penal code section 436, the person/persons involved in burning the house are punishable with 7 years+ of rigorous imprisonment and this falls under the category of a non bailable offence. And when the assets/belonging are brought outside the house and burnt, it's a bailable offense and the punishment is limited to 6 months to one year of imprisonment. This offense falls under IPC 435.

Fr. Challan, Director of Pastoral centre, Kanjamendi and Sr. Meena, administrator of the centre which was burnt and ransacked on 24th escaped from the centre to hide in Jashawanta Pradhan's house. On 25th, mob having the information about this forcefully entered the house dragging both of them outside. They were beaten up badly and taken to the police fundi (smaller unit of police station) in the area. It is reported that they were tied up in the fundi and were threatened of being burnt alive. There is no update about their condition since then.

Paul Pradhan who runs an NGO in the district and works for the rights of dalits and adivasis was also attacked in his house, office was destroyed completely.

It is also reported that most of the Christian houses in Tikkabali block were attacked and set fire. Numbers are still unknown.

One person called Vikram Nayak was cut into pieces at Tiagian under G Udaygiri police station. Other two sustained injuries while no medication facilities have been made available and it is reported that both two persons were died. In Tiangia village under the same police station limits, houses of Christian families were set on fire and people have fled to jungle. It was reported that the miscreants have been following them and were attacking.

On 25th late night, Sankrakhol Parish church and presbytery were set fire and ransacked, the parish priest Fr. Alexandar Chandi left to the nearest forest and he was saved. It is reported that his most of the assets are set fire and church is completely destroyed.

Fr. Bernard Digal who had gone to visit Fr. Alexandar Chandi was held up in Sankrakhol parish when the mob attacked the church. His Marshal Jeep was set fire. While narrating the incident Fr.Bernard said that when the mob enters the church premise they left to the forest and hid themselves. They were safe but the vehicle was set fire. He walked around 10.K.M to reach one of his relations house. As he was walking the attackers were use to see him but could not recognise.

• On 25th August late night the Convent of St.Joseph's at Sankrakhole was attacked and ransacked. Sisters also left to the forest and have saved their life.


• On 25th August 2008, Abenswar Digal's house is set fire, under Tikabali Police station.

In Raikia, attacks are on as of 11.30 p.m. and the nature of damage is yet to be known. As per the first information report reveals that on 25th August late evening at Raikia 17 Christian houses were ransacked. Most of the house articles and assets were removed from the house and gather outside and set fire. As per the first hand report the victims identified were Mr. Bijay Parichha, Mr. R.K.Nayak, Mr. Joseph Nayak, Mr. Susant Dal Behera, Mr. Santosh Nayak, Mr. Santun Nayak, Mr. Harihar Das, Mr. Mosesh Nayak, Mr. Prakash Nayak, Mr. Raju Parichha and others.

• On 25th August 2008 late night The Ambasodar Vehicle of Mr. Sukant Nayak, Director Shahara (NGO), was set fire.


• On 25 th August 2008 late night The Office of Karuna (NGO), under Raikia Police station were ransacked.


• On 25th afternoon the Pentecostal church at Budamaha, under Raikia Polic station was vandalized and ransacked.


• On 25th August 2008, Masadkia church was vandalized and ransacked.


• On 25th August 2008, two Pentecostal churches were vandalized and ransacked.


• On 25th August 2008, Pisermaha Church, under Raikia Police station was vandalized and ransacked.


• On 25th August 2008, Baptist church and R.C Church at Mondakia under Raikia Police station was vandalized and ransacked.


• On 25th August 2008, Mdahupanga Church, under Raikia Police station was vandalized and ransacked.

As the violence continues, most of the parish priests and sisters are still not reachable and their conditions are not known. The houses are being burnt in several places in Phulbani, Srasanada, Pobingia, Balliguda and Konjamendi.

In Bhubaneswar, the impact of the Bandh was also felt severely by people with most of the office being closed, shops stayed closed as well. Transportation was totally disrupted and tyres were burnt in many places across the city. There were huge rallies by the supporters of VHP and Bajrangdal on the main roads and junctions.

There were also some cases of attacks reported within the city and most of these attacks were on churches and church related institutions. From early morning of 25th onwards violent mobs made several attempts to enter the compound of Catholic Church and Archbishop's house in the city with a view to attack. Policemen deployed at the scene disbursed the mob and stopped them from entering the campus. Angry mob threw stones at the guest house of Archbishop's House, damaging some windows panes.

Another group of fundamentalists entered presbytery in Duburi parish, managed by the SVDs and destroyed and damaged property. Two priests of the said parish Fr. Xavier and Fr. Simon are missing and they were about are yet to be found. Institutions like XIMB, St. Arnold's School and NISWASS have suffered some damages while one Baptist Church in Akamra Jila in the city was also damaged.

Situation seems to be very serious and worsening by every hour with violence being intensified. From across the districts, people are trying to flee to the safer places. But nothing seems be safe as of now. The violence can turn more intense as the people return after Swami's cremation.

Other events that took place in Rayagada, Gajapati, Koraput and other south Orissa districts left Christians and Christian institutions throughout the state fearful. Father Obed Khura of Sunebeda received three threatening calls. While he approached the Sunebeda OIC, has was refused police protection and was sent back with assurance that the school he runs will not be attacked and was instructed to stay away from the school.

In Muniguda (closer to Tumudibandha, Rayagada district), as the mass was coming to an end two jeep loads of youth from the town entered the compound and started shouting slogans. The police arrived on time and prevented the situation from escalating. Three policemen have been deployed at the gate which has been destroyed. The Church and Convent at Muniguda could not be saved. Around 80 inmates under the leadership of Fr. Pius Ekka and Sr. Marina Chacko have taken refuge in the forest. This happened inspite of the fact that Fr. Marshal Mihir Upasi was constantly in touch with the State Control Office of the Orissa Police and the SP of Rayagada. The mob first torched the police Jeep in Muniguda and then proceeded to the Convent and Church. On the previous day (24th of August) the mob threatened the Fathers after Sunday Mass. The mob sought out the houses holding Christian families and managed to destroy some of them. As a consequence allowing refuge to families has placed others at risk.

As the mob moved on from Bhairaguda, 3 km away from Muniguda to seek shelter in a school while raining, the villagers from the hindu community fed them. This took place at 7.20 pm.

Expecting an attack Fr. Manickthan, Bhawanipatna asked for protection, the SP expressed his inability to do anything due to the size of the mob. When Father suggested the SP on announcing curfew in the area and stop the mob's movement, the angry SP retorted saying that Fr. need not give orders to him. Later in the forenoon both the ADM and the SP visited the Church compound and inspected the law and order situation. The Malankara hostel was attacked in Bhawanipatna, not far from the Catholic Church, and many children have been badly hurt.

Missionaries of Charity from Dharmagarh, unaware of the events from the previous night, were travelling to Bhawanipatna for Sunday Mass. Near the jail in Bhawanipatna town their ambulance was intercepted and pelted with stones. All the sisters sustained minor injuries from the stones and broken glass. The police arrived and sent them back in the same damaged vehicle to Dharmagarh. Sr. Suma and Sr. Nirmala have been informed of this and the district administration has assured them of protection.

A group of police are guarding the Church in Jeypore after the threat of oncoming attacks. The police informed Fr. Bimol Nayak that some 200 people are preparing to attack the Church. Fr. Bimol Nayak and another Brother have taken shelter with nearby friends. Around 24 policemen are guarding the church compound in Mohana after road blocks started on Sunday evening. Additionally, a group of 9 police men are safeguarding the Church in Goudogotho and the Cathedral.

It is also reported that the Lutheran Church in Malkangiri, Padua, and Gunupur were destroyed. Fathers and Sisters along with the children in Gumuda have left the mission stations fearing attacks. On the 24th as the Congregation was coming out of the Church in Malkangiri, a group of angry youth harassed them and forced them to recite Bande Mataram. 22 Christian Families of Shanti Nagar (Givindapur) at the foothill of Taptapani Hot Spring were also assaulted and forced to leave the village.

In Boudh also, a group of protestors entered the parish and destroyed things and property. Communal tension was high also in other districts across the state with several incidents of attacks against the people as well as property. In Balasore, Balsore Social Service Society (official social wing of the Balasore diocese) was attacked three times during the day on 25th august. The mob shouting slogans broke all the window panes and destroyed a statue of Mother Mary which was installed in the BSSS office campus. Badrak also had few incidents of attacks but the details are not known.

Hindu protestors attacked Jyoti Niketan of Baipariguda in Koraput district in the afternoon of 25th August. Father Joy Areeckal had to run into the forest and the hostel children and his social workers are subjected to insults and intimidation. The Mission has been destroyed along with all that it contained. A sad twist to the story is that the police along with the people seized wooden planks in spite of the fact that the carpenters who are building a new hostel building in the campus there claimed that it was bought by them. Consequently, a criminal case may be filed against Fr. Areeckal under the Forest Act.

Mr. Routo Desinayak and Ms. Kalyani, who works for an agro-entrepreneurship program for SWAD at Boipariguda were also arrested under the forest protection act. Though the Police Officer and the Block Development Officer was not willing, the mob forced the police to tie Mr. Desinayak with a rope and drag him through the street up to the Forest Office. Miss Kalyani being a woman was spared of this ordeal. Fr. Thomas Chelan and a Sister (name could not be obtained) who were manhandled and humiliated by the mob have been kept in police custody in the pretext of giving security since the morning of August 25th.

In Govindapally, close to Boipariguda, protestors entered the Convent and damaged the grotto of Our Lady and the Cross of the Church yard. In the same district Fathers and Sisters in Koraput, Jeypore and Semiliguda are in hiding.

In Bargarh district, a mob of about 2000 people went around ransacking many church institutions and there were serious attacks on priests and nuns. In Padampur, Fr. Edward Sequira was attacked and was beaten up brutally. He survived with serious head injury and still unconscious. "His life is under critical still" said Fr. Alphonse Toppo, Vicar Gerneral of Sambalpur diocese. The institution which caters to children affected by Leprosy was attacked and burnt. While the institution burnt to ashes, along with it also burnt was the auxiliary nurse Rajani Majhi 20 year old, who took care of the children in the institute and was studying in Padampur Women's College.

Sundargarh also saw many such incidents of church burning and attacks on church properties damages are yet to be ascertained.

In Sambalpur district, HM Sister's residence of Ainthapalli has suffered damage while priests are given warnings of attacks in Madhupur, Badibahal area. Stone pelting and breaking of window panes of churches and related institutions was a common scene across the state.

In continuation to all this violence across the state, Dibyasingh Pariccha, PRO and Secretary, Justice and Peace Commission (Arch Diocese of Cuttak Bhubaneswar) has condemned the killing of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and appealed for a CBI enquiry into the incident. He requested that culprits responsible for the incident be punished instead of attacking the whole Christian community.

He appealed to the government to deploy adequate forces to safeguard life and property of Christian people.

It is reported that people are suffering from with out food, cloth and shelter. Last night, there was heavy rain and people were in the forest with the wet cloth. However, the condition of the children and women were indescribable. School children are deprived of their studies.

Courtesy: Daijiworld

A Plan to Raze All Christian Places

...From a circulating email.

SHOCKING NEWS FROM INE

In a high level meeting of Orissa Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), VHP (Viswa Hindu Parishad), Bajrang Dal and RSS (Rastriya Swayam Sevak Sangh) held in Rourkela on 24th August, they have made a firm resolution to continue the work of demolishing all the Christian Institutions and Churches in the State, especially in the district of Sundargarh. They have planned to start the attacks in the western Orissa from Wednesday (27th August). This is the message given to us by a police who went in civil dress to the meeting.

Our Confrere, Fr. Edward Secqueira, SVD in Padampur (Bargarh District) was very badly beaten up and his condition is very serious. He is in Padampur Hospital.

(1) Another confrere, Fr. Simon Lakra and another Jesuit priest who was with him in Duburi, were chased, caught and taken by the miscreants. No further news about them.

(2) The Catholic Church of Madhupur and the HM's Convent in Madhupur were set on fire today (25th). The Father with the hostel boys and the sisters with the Hostel Boys have run away into villages and are hiding in the people's homes.

(3) The Pastoral Centre, at Konjamendi, a huge building of the Archdiocese of Bhubaneswar is totally demolished by blasting it with bombs,

(4) Jana Vikas Kedra, a social service centre at Konjamendi was also set on fire.

(5) The director of the Pastoral centre, Fr. Thomas Chellan and Sr. Meena Barwa, HM who ran away and hid themselves in a Catholic house, were caught today and beaten up thoroughly; Fr. Thomas Chellan was stripped and paraded and both of them are handed over to the Police.

(6) Few Village Churches in Rourkela diocese have been torched.

Please advise our Bishops and Major Superiors to seek the help of the All India Bishops and in solidarity with the suffering of Khandhamal District, they could call for a close of all the educational institutions in the country. The earlier we do the better we can spend time can get the sympathy and the support of the non-Christians in the State.

Thanking you and requesting your prayers,

-An SVD Priest