A people’s tribunal, led by prominent civil rights activists in India, submitted a letter last week to the Odisha government accusing the state administration of being complicit in the persecution of Christians.

The letter called out the conduct of the police, the civil administration, elected representatives, and cabinet ministers for failing to protect the minority Christian communities from religious persecution.

The people’s tribunal has been constituted by Karwan-e-Mohabbat and a collective of concerned citizens of India to investigate the growing incidents of anti-Christian discrimination and violence in many states of India and is currently on an investigative tour.

Karwan-e-Mohabbat, or Caravan of Love, is a people’s campaign devoted to the universal values of the constitution: solidarity, equality, freedom, justice, and compassion.

The letter addressed to the chief secretary of Odisha’s government was signed by prominent human rights activists like John Dayal, Aakar Patel, Vidya Dinker, and Harsh Mander.

The people’s tribunal stated in the letter that Odisha has a long history of violence targeting its Christian minorities, especially among its Adivasi and Dalit communities.

The tribunal members stated that they traveled to Odisha in early May and met about 300 women and men from Nabarangpur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Anugul, Sambalpur, Rayagada, Khorda, and Jajpur.

Administration Involvement

According to the tribunal, the victims have testified that the police, the civil administration, elected representatives, and members of the state cabinet encouraged and participated in the persecution of Christian minorities and the denial of their fundamental rights.

Particularly striking is the fact that one of the districts that’s seen the worst anti-Christian violence includes the constituency represented by the Ministry of Minority Welfare.

This is even more worrying than simply the attacks by organized formations reportedly closely affiliated to the right-wing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party government in Odisha and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Assault on Constitutional Rights

During these meetings, the letter stated, Christians recounted the details of violent attacks.

“From the accounts,” the letter said, “it is beyond doubt that the Odisha state government is doing little to prevent the brazen and continuous violations of the fundamental rights of its Christian, mostly Adivasi and Dalit citizens.”

These stories reveal that the fundamental right of freedom of conscience and faith guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution is under assault. The victims have also been denied protection of their lives, liberty, and livelihoods, and their freedom to choose where they live and work.

Harrowing Testimonies

The tribunal heard four types of violence targeting Christian minorities. The first of these was physical attacks on Christian places of worship, including chapels, house churches, and pastors and priests.

A second worrying pattern that the tribunal heard about was the social and economic boycott of people of Christian belief and faith, and on some occasions, even their enforced expulsion from their village.

A third development is the gruesome and forceful prevention of the burial of Christians who died within the village burial ground or even the private lands owned by Christians.

The tribunal heard of bodies rotting sometimes for days before the burial becomes possible, and some burials are forced in forested lands outside the village boundaries.

The fourth pattern is the physical assaults on Christians. Sometimes, this takes the form of tying them to a tree and beating them, or putting them in sacks and physically assaulting them.

Victimizing the Victims

The tribunal expressed concern that in most cases of violence, the police registered grave criminal charges against the Christians who were attacked, followed by their detention in police stations and jails. There were also instances where the police played a direct role in the intimidation and violence against the Christian minorities.

While appealing to the chief secretary, who leads the state administration, to uphold and defend the constitutional and religious rights of the citizens in the state without discrimination of religion, caste, or creed, the tribunal said it is evident that there is a complete breakdown in the constitutional machinery of the state in relation to its Christian minorities.

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