Friday, August 29, 2008

Mayhem in Orissa as Hindu extremists target Christians

http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=62482

[Church Times] 29 Aug 2008--A nun was burned to death on Mon­day in a series of attacks by Hindu extremists on Christians in eastern India.

A priest was also seriously injured after the orphanage in which he and the nun worked in Orissa was torched. Twenty children managed to escape. The attack was part of a wave of violence after a Hindu leader, Swami Lakhmananda Saraswati, and four of his associates were murdered by, it is thought, Maoist guerrillas.

The Bishop of Phulbani in the Church of North India (CNI), the Rt Revd Bijay Nayak, sent a graphic account of the events in his area by email on Wednesday. He writes: “Situation is very critical. More than 15 people are killed, among them seven are from our church from Barakhama and Udayagiri. Many church buildings are destroyed and still going on. Many many people are in jungle out of fear. Balliguda hostel, Udayagiri boys and girls hostel children were in the jungle last night. Continuously they are de­stroy­ing the people’s houses.

“Mr Mathew Naik is killed at Kritangia village near Raikia. He was boys’ hostel superintendent for many years and at present he was Diocese executive member. They caught and put him in the water and cut into pieces and burnt in front of the Church. They have also targeted the Christian leaders of the district. All the leaders are hiding. I request you with tears kindly organize the prayer for us.”

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