[Reader-list] Fwd: Orissa burning again

[Surya Dash]

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Please find a letter from *Mr.Dibakar  Parichha* to SHRC on Kandhamal
situation.


To

The State Human Rights Commission

Bhubaneswar

Orissa


*Orissa burning again*

*Bhubaneswar*

*Dt.26**th** August 2008.*

*Stocktaking of the situation in State of Orissa*

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 Laxmanananda Saraswati
along with five other people was shot dead in his Jalaspeta Ashram near
Tumudibandha (Kandhamal District, Orissa).  A Naxalite group has claimed the
responsibility saying that he devided people on the basis of religion and
ethnicity. The Swami was 84 years old and was especially known for violently
opposing cow slaughter and conversion. He opposed the extreme naxalite
group. 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 23rd and
are expected to continue.

On 23rd evening immediately after the news of  murder of Swami Laxmanada
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 P.M, Mr. 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 p.m. the house of Mr. 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.

We will observe that in such incidents of burning and ransacking, 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 Mr. 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 heads 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, Mr. Abenswar Digal's house is set fire, under Tikabali
Police station.

On 25th August 2008, at about 11.00 p.m 23 houses of Gumagarh, under
Bisipadsad Police station were attacked and ransacked.

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
25thAugust late evening at Raikia 17 Christian houses were ransacked.
Most of
the house articles and assets were removed from the house and gathered
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 Ambasadar Vehicle of Mr. Sukant Nayak,
Director *Shahara (*NGO), was set fire.

On 25th 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 their where about are
yet to be found. Institutions like St. Arnold's School (Kalinga Bihar);
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 in spite 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 24 th 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
25thaugust. 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.

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, Hand Maid 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.

A Roman Catholic cemetery was damaged by an irate mob in Sambalpur town. The
mob also pelted the stones at the Oriya Baptist Church near G.M College.
Burning of motorbike belonging to a pastor Pravakar Munna, ransacking of a
prayer house in Chiplima and attempt to attack a mission institution were
also reported.

In continuation to all this violence across the state, Dibyasingh Pariccha,
PRO and Secretary, Justice and Peace Commission (Arch diocese of Cuttack
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.

On 26th August 2008, at bout 11.30 a.m the mob is attacking   at Badimunda
Village, under Tikabali police station in Kandhamal District. It is reported
Roman Catholic Church and 5 individual houses were set fire.

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.

Kindly pray for us so that peace and harmony may return soon. Thank you very
much for your solidarity.

End
Dibkar Parichha

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