Radical Hindus Leave 14 Churches Burning, 1 Dead after Christmas Assault

12/27/07 New Delhi (International Christian Concern) – Hindu extremists killed at least one Christian and attacked over 30 Christian institutions on the eve and day of Christmas in the Baliguda sub-division of the Kandhamal district in the eastern state of Orissa, where an indefinite curfew has been imposed.

Baliguda has been tense since December 24 when a mob allegedly led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) attacked Christians and vandalized their shops to protest Christmas Eve celebrations by the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Brahmani village.

Rabi Sudhasundar, the priest of the church, said that there were more than 200 Catholic families in Bamunigam area where Brahmani village is situated, and that the church had received permission from authorities to hold a Christmas program.

According to Sudhasundar, a local Hindu leader, Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, did not want Christians to openly celebrate Christmas.

“The leader instigated local residents and led a mob of more than 100 people carrying sticks and guns to attack the Christians indiscriminately,” he told ICC.

The priest added that later, when Saraswati was returning to launch more attacks, Christians tried to stop him, and that led to a clash between the two groups.

“Their entire attention is on driving away Christians from the region,” said Dr. John Dayal, a Christian leader and member of the National Integration Council of the Government of India.

According to John Varghese, regional coordinator of the Philadelphia Fellowship Churches in India (PFCI), several PFCI churches have been destroyed in the villages of the Baliguda sub-division.

At least three Baptist churches were burnt in the villages of Kudupakia, Gosukia and Depakheta. Philadelphia churches belonging to PFCI were set ablaze in the villages of Sirthiguda, Burangia and Budrumaha. In addition, several churches belonging to the Catholic and the Church of North India denominations were set on fire in the same sub-division.

An office of the World Vision of India in the area has also reportedly been vandalized.

The attacks took place despite 20 platoons of police deployed to ease existing tensions.

Local Christians feel that the electronic media, mainly in the vernacular language, fuelled the fire by featuring biased reports.

Unconfirmed reports say Catholic boys, Avinash Nayak, 12, and Silu Senapati, 13, received bullet injuries, said Sudhasundar, adding that while both are believed to be admitted to a hospital, Senapati’s condition is said to be critical.

The name of the Christian who has reportedly been killed could not be ascertained.

Christians have urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene and protect Christians from further attack.

In a memorandum submitted to the prime minister on December 26, Dr. John Dayal said at least 14 churches, four convents, three houses of priests, and eight hostels had been fully or partially destroyed, besides injuries sustained by numerous Christians in Kandhamal district’s Baliguda sub-division.