By NNN-APP,
New Delhi : The recent carnage in Orissa state during communal violence against poor and helpless members of Christian community has sent a new wave of fears and insecurity among minorities of India.
The ugly episode began following the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmananada Saraswati on August 23 last which triggered horrors in the streets of Kandamal, a worst -hit district of the state where Hindu extremists including activists of VHP and Bajrang Dal went on rampage killing the members of poor community and setting on fire their churches, prayers halls and orphan houses.
The officials have put the death toll at 16 but independent sources and All India Christian Council, a body representing different Christian organizations have put the toll at more than 24.
Hundreds of churches, prayer Halls, Christian centres including a missionary-run orphan house were torched within not time in Kandhamal and surrounding districts in a bid to take revenge for the murder of Hindu leader who was reportedly killed by Naxalites.
Later, Naxalites who are active in the area took the responsibility of killing the VHP leader.
The reports from the area suggested that unaccounted bodies of members of Christian community are still lying in nearby dense jungles where the helpless community fled to escape death. They were followed and butchered there by the Hindu activists.
This region had witnessed a trail of death and destruction in the same fashion when Christians were butchered in the streets of at the hands of saffron forces when they were celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ in December last year.
This time, the “dance of death” continued for almost two weeks in different districts of Orissa state and also spilled over to border state of Madhya Pradesh when the state machinery failed to stop the onslaughts of Hindu extremists.
Thousands of Christians fled to dense jungles to escape their lives. Incidents of forcible conversion to Hinduism were also reported by Christian organizations of the area.
Reacting to this gory drama, the shocked Christian community became active and met Indian President and Prime Minister expressing their grave concerns over the safety of their religious fellows in Orissa state.
They shut down over thirty thousands missionary-run educational institutions on August 29 to protest against these attacks.
They presented a memorandum to Indian government demanding ban on Hindu outfits such as VHP and Bajrang Dal which are responsible for this violence.
The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described this situation as “shame on India” while Home Minister Shivraj Patil who witnessed the burnt churches and houses during his visit to the area termed it “unfortunate.”
Pope Benedict XVI has condemned this violence with “deep sadness”.
While several international human rights bodies have also condemned these wanton killings.
Christian Community approached the Supreme Court of India on Wednesday which directed the Orissa government to submit report on the steps taken to protect lives and property of Christian community.
The order was passed by the apex court on the petition filed by Archbishop of Cuttack Raphael Cheenath who pleaded that Orissa state government and its police force were not cooperating with central para-military forces to control the situation.
The Archbishop submitted that attacks on churches and other properties belonging to the community ware a well orchestrated conspiracy. He pleaded that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) be asked to conduct a probe to find out which organisation was behind the Kandhamal violence. He held Orissa government responsible for the violence.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Christians in different cities across India took out processions to protest against these attacks. They demanded to allow raising private army to protect their life and property.
They said the Hindu groups which favour a “Hindu Rashtra” have made Orissa their laboratory, as they earlier did in Gujarat.
An Indian leading English daily “Tribune” in his report on Orissa situation published on Sept. 6 said “officially speaking, the anti-Christian violence in Orissa has claimed 14 lives.
But anyone who has travelled the tribal heartland of Kandhamal post-August 23 can tell that this place has seen more blood than the world will ever know.”
The report further said in relief camps “People are still recounting with horror how their family members were axed and beheaded, torched and blown up with LPG cylinders in kitchens. Others had to run for life to the jungles, while the rioters had savage fun.
“Hundreds of bodies, claim the survivors of communal violence, are still rotting in the forests, with no search operations being conducted. Most such killings are not reflected in official figures with families unable to furnish proof of alleged murders.”