Bhubaneswar: Contrary to the Orissa Government's claim that the situation in riot-hit Kandhamal district is returning to normalcy, there were reports of arson, kidnapping and torching of 10 houses in Gochhapada police area on 21 September 2008.

On 20 September 2008, 33-year-old Ishwar Digal from Gatringia village in Tikabali block of Kandhamal was waylaid as he and his wife Bhumi were coming back to their relief camp in Phulbani town, about 250 km from Bhubaneswar through a forest.

Digal had gone to visit his ailing father who is paralysed. Around 8.30 pm the activists came to Digal's house and threatened him to convert to Hinduism and went away. Sensing danger Digal along with his wife managed to escape in the cover of the night.

Unfortunately the fundamentalists were able to catch hold of them and hacked him to death. His wife however managed to flee and went to Sarangada police station where the case has been registered. The CRPF and the police are trying to recover the body.

Four churches attacked in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Three churches in Bengaluru and one in Kodagu district in Karnataka were targeted by miscreants on 21 September 2008.

According to reports, the culprits broke open the rear door of St James Church in the early hours using a metal rod, and desecrated the Blessed Sacrament, scattered the sacred bread, forced open the cupboards, ransacked the prayer hall, and decamped with two gold-plated crowns worth around Rs 17,000. They also emptied the offering box which contained around Rs 1,000.

In the second incident that occurred at Raja Rajeswari Nagar at around 8.15 am the saffron outfit pelted stones at the Holy Name of Jesus Church damaging the glass-panes and desecrating a statue.

True Gospel church located at Bhuvanahalli village in Devanahalli, Bengaluru had also come under attack by the Hindutva radicals during early morning hours. This incident happened at about 3.30 am on 21 September 2008. The Hindu radicals barged inside the church and broke all the window glass, roof sheets and other furniture. The miscreants then again after the worship service pelted stones at the boundary wall and damaged it.

In Kodagu, a Brethren Church near Nellihudikeri in Siddapura was vandalised after midnight on 20 September 2008. The miscreants barged into the church and broke the glass panes further damaging the other furniture. Pastor Samuel has been serving the church for the last six years. The church has a congregation of 35 believers. The evangelists were taken to Siddapura Police station for enquiry and were charged under Sections 149,143,295 and 448 of Indian Penal Code. Siddapura is 28 km away from Madikere. The evangelists belong to Free to Kids Ministry based in HD Kote.

Two churches vandalised in Kerala

Kochi: Two churches, that stand on adjoining compounds one of them among the oldest in India, were vandalized by unidentified people in the early hours of at Akapparambu in Nedumbassery panchayat, about 35 km from Kochi city 21 September 2008.

According to reports, a seven-foot statue of Christ in the cemetery of the 467-year-old Garvasis and Prothasis Church, belonging to the Syro-Malabar Church denomination, was broken and the pedestal was knocked off.

The Mar Sabore, a Syrian Cathedral Church, which was adjacent to it was also desecrated. It was the cleaning employee at the cathedral who first noticed that the holy chamber in which the sandalwood cot of St. Paulose Mar Athanasius Valiya Thirumentni was kept was damaged.

Fr. Paulose Arackaparambil, vicar at the cathedral church while talking to the media said the glass windows must have been smashed between 11 pm and 5 am. The cathedral, said to have been built in 825 AD, is one of the ancient churches of the Jacobites.

Christians harassed in Punjab

Bhatinda (Punjab): Until recently, members of BJP, RSS, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena and VHP would either attack Christians directly or use the media to accuse the Christians of Conversion. But since the formation of the coalition government between Akali Dal (B) and BJP in Punjab, they have started using some of the members of the Sikh Community against Christians.

On 10 September 2008, the police arrested a local evangelist Bahadur Giri along with two Christians Daljeet and Malkait Singh under Section 295A on charges of burning the Sikh Holy Scriptures. After five days of police custody the three were bailed out on 15 September 2008, but a case has been registered against them in the court.

On 16 September 2008, another Christian convert Balkaran Singh was arrested under the above mentioned charges without any proof whatsoever. Later he was released on bail.

Around 30 pastors from different districts of Punjab met the District Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police of District Bathinda and submitted a memorandum stating cases of Christians being falsely implicated.

(Source: EFI e-newsletter, aicc leaders)