Kameswar Digal, whose leg was amputated following attacks
(Photo: © PK Samantaroy)
In Delhi a mass fast, in Orissa some Christians turn violent while others threaten suicide in climate of fear
Christians in Delhi have begun a seven-day fast in protest at continuing mass violence and intimidation in Orissa.
Meanwhile in Orissa, the Kandhamal district has seen members of the Christian community fight back - a mob of 50 beat a Hindu to death on Thursday.
Also on Thursday 500 Hindus torched 50 Christian homes in Beherasahi village, the Associated Press reports.
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The climate of fear in Kandhamal is such that one Christian village threatened a mass suicide unless its people could be moved to a Christian-majority area elsewhere in the state.
The Bishop of Amritsar, the Rt Rev PK Samantaroy, met the Christians of Barakhama during a recent visit to Orissa.
“During our meeting they showed us a letter they have written to the Collector asking the Government to shift the entire Christian population to Daringbadi area (Christian majority area) failing which they would commit mass suicide.”
“The kind of destruction and devastation we saw numbed our senses,” he added.
The protest in Delhi - called a dharna - was launched by Bishop Joel Mall, moderator of the Church of North India and is supported by many Christian denominations. Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs and Jains were also represented, according to the Rev Dr Richard Howell of the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI).
Dharna traditionally means sitting at the door of a wrongdoer and fasting until justice is obtained.
Another mass dharna - involving some 30,000 Christians according to EFI - took place on 21 September in Chennai.
The Delhi protest began on Friday 26 September at one of New Delhi’s most famous tourist sights - the Jantar Mantar, a series of architectural astronomy instruments built in the 18th century.
It concludes next Thursday at the memorial to Mahatma Ghandi.
Tens of thousands of Christians continue to live in refugee camps, with poor hygiene. Bishop Samantaroy voiced his frustration that “Attacks on Christians continue despite the assurance by the Government that everything is under control.”
With large parts of Orissa hit by flood water, relief work of any kind is made more difficult.
CMS is able to receive donations which will be sent to provide relief and support to the most affected and vulnerable communities in Orissa as soon as it can be delivered.