23 members of the Digal family killed
Christians are forcibly Reconverted to Hinduism
There is a complete collapse of governance in Orissa.
The Central Government should act to protect the People, the Church leaders ask.
The Bishop of Phulbani in the Church of North India (CNI), the Rt Revd Bijay Nayak, gave a graphic account of the events in his area by email. 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.”
Rasananda Pradhan, was burnt to death in Kandhamal district. A police camp at Barakhama was attacked, Christians fled into the forest.
A young nun was gang-raped in the Social Service Centre in Kandhamal before the building was destroyed. The Diocesan Pastoral Centre in nearby Kanjimendi was set on fire, and a senior priest and nun were badly injured there. Christian boys have been seized and their heads tonsured. Mobs have attacked the Mother Teresa Brothers’ residence and hospital in Srasanada and beaten up the patients. Houses have been attacked in forest hamlets. Christian schools have been damaged or destroyed, and shops looted and burned.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has denounced VHP’s actions as “sickening”. Its advocacy director, Tina Lambert, described Orissa as under mob justice. “The killing of Saraswati is an ominous warning that if justice is not done and seen to be done, the people may take matters into their own hands.”
Dr Joseph D’souza, president of the All-India Christian Council (AICC), said that the government must now act to restore order, protect those who were most vulnerable, and secure rapid convictions of the perpetrators.
The AICC’s secretary general, John Dayal, said: “Today hardliner Hindu nationalists say they cannot control their followers, who are simply unleashing their frustration with unethical missionaries. Police say they cannot put officers in every village to protect Christians. Behind all the excuses, the reality is that there is a complete collapse of governance in Orissa.
“It is the duty of the President and Prime Minister of India — as well as state governments — to protect the life, liberty, and property of every citizen. We hope and pray they will act before more innocent people are killed.”
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Letter from Rev.Raj Bharath Patta
7th to 21st September, to be observed as a fortnight of prayer and solidarity for peace and harmony of all people of faith in India.
Dear Sir,
As you are aware about the situation in India right now, the state of Orissa is in utter turmoil, with the tension for the lives of Dalit Christians creeping up, after the brutal killings of nearly 30 people, Christian houses burnt, and ransacking several Christian institutions and Churches by the religious fundamentalist groups. Most Dalit Christians and their families have fled to the jungles and are hiding there in fear and life threatening situations. It has already been four days since the attacks on Christians have started, and the state government has utterly failed in bringing in peace in the state of Orissa.
On the call of the National United Christian Forum, a united plattform of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) Christian schools, colleges and other instituations were closed today, 29th August 2008 all across the nation as a mark of solidarity with the suffereing brothers and sisters in Orissa and as a potest against the communal violence on Christian minorities in Orissa.
Besides this, delegations of Church leadership have met the Prime Minister of India and has sought the quick intervention of the Union government in safeguarding Christians in Orissa and in establishing peace among communities in Orissa. Several Church representatives are sitting at the Orissa Bhavan in New Delhi building pressure on the Orissa government to act judiously and to bring the law and order situation to control.
It was also decided that on the 7th September 2008, Sunday, the Churches will declare a day of prayer and fasting and will hold prayer services and memorial gatherings, highlighting the need for solidarity with all the victims and pray for peace and harmony among people of all faiths. Therefore i urge you all to join in observing the day of prayer on the 7th, wherever you are and take the lead in your local congregations to do so. At our NCCI secretariat, few prayers and a brief worship order has been prepared and is posted on our NCCI website for you all to make use of those resources for the 7th. As we all know 21st September is celebrated as the International Day of Prayer for Peace, which was initiated by the World Council of Churches, may i also ask you all to take the occasion from the 7th to 21st September, a fortnight, in calling all people of faith for prayer and solidarity for peace and harmony in India.
At a moment like this, we all need to be united in our efforts, and we in NCCI are working hard to get connected with people in Orissa through our regional council, the Utkal Christian Council. An inter-faith peace group is envisaged to be initiated for peace measures in Orissa, and I also request you all to organise inter-faith groups in your localities in sensitizing them in addressing issues on communal violence and for a wider network of solidarity for the Dalit Christians in Orissa.
I shall keep you updated on the situation, but we seek all your earnest prayers and support for the people of Orissa.
Trusting in the hope of Shalom,
regards,
raj bharath patta
--
Rev.Raj Bharath Patta,
Executive Secretary,
Commission on Dalits and Adivasis,
National Council of Churches in India,
Post Box # 205,
Civil Lines,
Nagpur. 440 001
Maharashtra,
INDIA.
Ph# 0091 712 2561464
Fax# 0091 712 2520554
www.nccindia.in
www.thepattas.blogspot.com
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Kandhs and Panu tribals set against one another
Jaiswal, the internal security minister, is learnt to have said the situation was “out of control”. He had been requested not to visit the district yesterday as it was curfew-bound.
Security forces echoed Jaiswal and said matters had gone out of the hands of the local administration. A source in the Rapid Action Force said the unrest had spread deep. Not only were the state police not acting, the source said, a senior bureaucrat on deputation in Kandhamal hid in the house of a CRPF company commander yesterday fearing the mobs.
“The situation is so bad that about 10,000 Christians are hiding in a hill in Kandhamal while the police are not acting,” said a senior CRPF officer in New Delhi.
At least 10 people have died in the state since Sunday as groups owing allegiance to the Sangh parivar ransacked Christian homes and prayer buildings after a VHP leader and four others were killed by suspected Naxalites.
A Reuters report said mobs armed with rods put up roadblocks across the district and others attacked churches.
People armed with bows and arrows and axes have attacked Christian homes, dragging out women and children. Hundreds have fled to forests and nearby hills, officials said.
“Moments after we passed by a Christian village, people set it on fire and everything was over within minutes,” a senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said from Kandhamal.
Patnaik met governor M.C. Bhandare and apprised him of the situation and of the steps taken by the government. He said free kitchens and relief camps were operating in six block areas, where riot-affected people were being provided police protection.
The Kandhamal clashes are primarily between the Kands, who are predominantly Hindus, and the Panu tribals, who are Christians. The latter are financially better off and are into several trades, including money-lending, sources said.
Letter from Orissa -- what have we done wrong?
Excerpts from the Letter
Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 3:37 PM
On Monday, our Church was broken into and furniture, fittings etc destroyed. The Hospital was threatened but not entered. Since then all of us have been on all-night vigils, both at the church and the hospital.
What was most disconcerting for me was that the mob specifically also shouted slogans against our community health unit and me. We were quite surprised, because we didn't expect this. We had to move in all our field staff and close down the health centres. At our Kachapaju School, we asked the parents and community leaders to decide, and they decided to take the children home for a week, and take turns in batches of 30 men per day to stay and guard the School campus. Lots of rumours of impending attacks have been coming to us, but nothing has happened there so far. In the meantime, we have been trying to decipher who hates us so much and why. In the meantime, I was advised to keep a low profile and stay out of public sight for some time. So I have mostly been working from home.
Today, the Police called for a Peace Meeting at 4 pm, with 30 invitees of whom 5 represent the Church and 5 were from the Hospital. They were apprehensive about my inclusion in the delegation, but we insisted. The Police conducted the meeting very well ; we have a really good Inspector here. They said that the meeting is called to ask only for suggestions on how to prevent communal violence from recurring in our town. The discussion started negatively with a couple of people saying that health and education services are being used as a cover for converting people to Christianity, and that there will be no peace till this stops. They also said they have nothing against the Hospital or the English Medium School. So it was obviously against me and our community health unit . After a while, I asked for permission to speak, and the police unprecedentedly allowed me to speak for over ten minutes. I took time to explain that they had totally misunderstood our work. " In the 20 years since I came to Bissamcuttack, I have not ever asked even one person to become a Christian or to change religions. I do not do this. I believe God is love, and our job is only to love and serve. In fact, over 90 % of my community health team is Hindu and not Christian. We do not work with a village unless we are invited in writing. Panchayath leaders are always involved. Tribal leaders evaluate and guide our work. Most of our education centres actually open with a small puja or breaking of a coconut. So tell me – what have we done wrong? Is it wrong to help a lady deliver safely in a hill village ? Is it wrong to help parents run a school where the teacher never comes, so that their children can get primary education? If any of you has a doubt, why didn't you ask me ? You are welcome to come with us on our clinic trips and see for yourselves." And so on.
I can only thank God for this opportunity he gave me to speak like this to an audience of 30 leaders of Bissamcuttack town. They had no answers or questions at the end. I just hope they see the truth and understand. In the meantime, we have to get back to the village community and let them decide how we go about the work in the future.
September 7, 2008 to be observed as Communal Amity Sunday
"Christians not connected to the death of the Swamy or any others murdered" Church says
The Syro-Malabar Bishops Synod meeting at Mount St. Thomas in Kochi condemned the killing of Saraswati, and observed that the “ Christians are in no way connected to the death of the Swamy .”
The Church’s, institutions and families will special prayers on Sept.7, marking it as “day protection of Christians and missionaries,” said an official synod release. The parishes of Syro-Malabar Church would observe September 7 as "communal amity" day praying for peace and harmony in violence marred Orissa state.
Read it all
The Bishops issued a list of the loss of the Catholic church in the recent Orissa Communal violence as on Aug 27, 2008: 12 killed in Kandhamal, 41 churches destroyed, 17 religious houses, 4 convents, 3 hostels, 7 institutions, and number of vehicles damaged.
Read it here
The Syro-Malabar Bishops Synod meeting at Mount St. Thomas in Kochi condemned the killing of Saraswati, and observed that the “ Christians are in no way connected to the death of the Swamy .”
The Church’s, institutions and families will special prayers on Sept.7, marking it as “day protection of Christians and missionaries,” said an official synod release. The parishes of Syro-Malabar Church would observe September 7 as "communal amity" day praying for peace and harmony in violence marred Orissa state.
Read it all
The Bishops issued a list of the loss of the Catholic church in the recent Orissa Communal violence as on Aug 27, 2008: 12 killed in Kandhamal, 41 churches destroyed, 17 religious houses, 4 convents, 3 hostels, 7 institutions, and number of vehicles damaged.
Read it here
CBCI, NCCI, EFI Issue Joint Letter: India's Secular Democracy at Stake
Orissa Violence against Christians: Eductional Institutions to be closed on Friday 29th August 2008 to raise National Consciousness
Dharna in front of the Orissa House
Christians Demand CBI Probe into the killing of Swamy
Union Minister prevented
The church network - including the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, the Evangelical Fellowship of India and the National Council of Churches in India - has written a letter to all Christian organisations in the country on the issue.
"Communal organisations have taken the law into their hands in Orissa. What is at stake is not only the freedom of conscience of a minority community but India's secular democracy," the letter said.
"The destructive and divisive communal forces have to be stopped. We want this message to go across to people, that is why we are closing our educational institutions in deep sorrow and anguish. We hope parents become aware of the implications of the incidents in Orissa," it added.
The All India Christian Council (AICC) has also planned a sit-in outside the Orissa House in the capital Friday. "The central government has failed to check violence in Orissa. It is only after five days of violence and atrocities on Christians that extra forces are being rushed," AICC Secretary Public Affairs Sam Paul told.
Read more
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Christian groups seek CBI enquiry into the killing of the VHP leader and the deployment of army in Kandhamal
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The situation in Orissa was so volatile that Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal and other Congress leaders, who arrived here to visit riot hit areas, were told by the state government that they could not do so and returned to New Delhi.
Police said trouble had spread to new areas, including the western district of Bolangir and the coastal district of Kendrapada.
No details were available but officials said curfew had been clamped in Kendrapada town and security intensified in Bolangir.
There have been stray incidents of violence in Kandhamal. We have also received reports of people burning a church in the district of Bolangir," said Director General of Police Gopal Chandra Nanda, adding that more than 3,000 policemen had been deployed.
We are hopeful normalcy would return in a week, Nanda told IANS while describing the situation as "under control".
Police have registered at least 70 cases in different police stations related to the communal violence and 54 people have been arrested, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed the state assembly.
Read it all
Dharna in front of the Orissa House
Christians Demand CBI Probe into the killing of Swamy
Union Minister prevented
The church network - including the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, the Evangelical Fellowship of India and the National Council of Churches in India - has written a letter to all Christian organisations in the country on the issue.
"Communal organisations have taken the law into their hands in Orissa. What is at stake is not only the freedom of conscience of a minority community but India's secular democracy," the letter said.
"The destructive and divisive communal forces have to be stopped. We want this message to go across to people, that is why we are closing our educational institutions in deep sorrow and anguish. We hope parents become aware of the implications of the incidents in Orissa," it added.
The All India Christian Council (AICC) has also planned a sit-in outside the Orissa House in the capital Friday. "The central government has failed to check violence in Orissa. It is only after five days of violence and atrocities on Christians that extra forces are being rushed," AICC Secretary Public Affairs Sam Paul told.
Read more
-----------------------
Christian groups seek CBI enquiry into the killing of the VHP leader and the deployment of army in Kandhamal
New Delhi (PTI): A group of Christian organisations on Thursday demanded that a CBI enquiry should be ordered into the murder of VHP leader and the ensuing violence to trace the guilty.
The organisations also asked the Union Government "to move its troops into affected blocks of Kandhamal district where the local police and RAF have miserably failed." John Dayal, member of National Integration Council, his letter to Sonia Gandhi on behalf of Christian organisations demanded that the "Government must rebuild the houses (which were damaged in violence) and also rebuild every single church that has been destroyed," Dayal said in the letter.
Dayal alleged that the BJD-BJP coalition government in Orissa "failed" in bringing a halt to the killing of Christians in the state.
----------------------------------
The situation in Orissa was so volatile that Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal and other Congress leaders, who arrived here to visit riot hit areas, were told by the state government that they could not do so and returned to New Delhi.
Police said trouble had spread to new areas, including the western district of Bolangir and the coastal district of Kendrapada.
No details were available but officials said curfew had been clamped in Kendrapada town and security intensified in Bolangir.
There have been stray incidents of violence in Kandhamal. We have also received reports of people burning a church in the district of Bolangir," said Director General of Police Gopal Chandra Nanda, adding that more than 3,000 policemen had been deployed.
We are hopeful normalcy would return in a week, Nanda told IANS while describing the situation as "under control".
Police have registered at least 70 cases in different police stations related to the communal violence and 54 people have been arrested, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed the state assembly.
Read it all
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Gayadhar Digal Killed: the Orissa High Court asks the state government to deploy army to contain violence against Christians
Dozens Dead in Anti-Christian Violence
Christian World News
August 27, 2008
The number of people confirmed dead has risen to 21 on the fourth day of ongoing violence in Kandhamal district and other parts of Orissa. The Global Council of Indian Christians reported that more than 114 anti-Christian attacks have taken place in various parts of the state.
"The worst hit are the people in Kandhamal district, where more than 400 churches, more than 500 houses and many Christian institutions have been demolished," GCIC President Dr. Sajan K. George said in a memorandum to the state governor. "The people have fled to jungles for safety."
The state administration, however, claimed far fewer casualties. "Only seven bodies have been recovered thus far," Deputy Inspector General of Police R.P. Koche told Compass.
. The IANS news agency said that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed the state assembly today that different police stations had registered a total of at least 70 cases and arrested 54 people in connection with attacks. According to The Hindu newspaper, Patnaik claimed that violence was under control. The Rt. Rev. Sunil K. Singh, bishop of the Church of North India, told Compass, "The situation in Orissa is far too worrisome and delicate. There has been a total break down of law and order resulting from barbaric communal attacks by anti Christian elements on innocent and peace loving Christians, their priests, nuns, religious workers, their churches and organizations."
The National Commission for Minorities called for "immediate" intervention of the federal government on the "outrageous communal violence in Orissa."
"Reports of violence against a minority community are outrageous," IANS quoted NCM Chairperson Mohammad Shafi Qureshi as saying. "Efforts must be made to rein in violence, and the must intervene effectively to restore peace in the state."
According to a report by Christian Legal Association, the Orissa High Court today passed an order asking the state government to deploy army personnel to ensure that victims are given compensation and are properly rehabilitated.
The court order came in response to a public interest litigation filed by attorney Collin Gonsalves of the Human Rights Law Network, a non-profit organization, on behalf of local Christians.
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A bench comprising Chief Justice B S Chauhan and Justice B N Mohapatra gave the directive to restore peace and normalcy in the district, where violence erupted after the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati.
"Take measures to restore peace in the area immediately by deploying adequate forces," the bench observed on Wednesday while adjudicating a PIL filed by Ambedkar-Lohia Vichar Manch chief Sangram
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No-Confidence Motion In view of the uncontrolled violence, the state legislative assembly yesterday accepted a no-confidence motion by the opposition Congress Party against the ruling coalition of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and the Biju Janata Dal party, a regional party that claims to be secular.
Read more
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The Business Standard Reports:
Almost the entire Kandhamal district was placed under indefinite curfew today.
Many homes and prayer houses were reportedly damaged in Raikia, G Udayagiri, Phulabani, Chakapada, Tumudibandh and Baliguda areas despite the prohibitory order and the presence of a thick blanket of security persons.
“Tension continues in several areas and we have mobilised additional forces to maintain law and order,” said Satyabrata Sahu, revenue divisional commissioner of the southern division. He did not confirm the number of casualties.
Sahu has been in the district since the escalation of violence following the killing of the Swami and his four followers at Jalespeta ashram near Tumudibandha.
Full Report
----------------------------------
Acooring the The Hindu, the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said that no political party or group should be accused without proper evidence. Proof needed to fix responsibility for Orissa violence.
"Who has actually done it (killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati or indulging in violence that followed) we have to find out. Some people say this party or this section of society having this kind of ideology has done it... Let it be decided," Patil told news channel Times Now.
"I have been in contact with the chief minister (of Orissa) and I have told him that the incident in which the Swami was killed has to be condemned. But it should not cause damage to others and it is the responsibility of the state government and all of us that different sections of society should not be attacked," Patil said.
Patil agreed that initial reports suggested involvement of Naxals in the killing of Saraswati but said, "Unless and until it is proved who has done it, acting against some section of society is wrong."
Saraswati, a VHP activist, had been active in the area for the last four decades.
The Home Minister informed that 20 companies of paramilitary and helicopters have been provided to Orissa to deal with the violence that continues to rock the state. Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal is visiting the state to take stock of the situation.
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Christian organisations Wednesday filed a writ petition in the Orissa High Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the murder of a Hindu leader last week and subsequent communal violence in the state. ”We have filed a writ petition seeking direction from the court for a CBI inquiry into the heinous murder of Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati and his associates and subsequent violence,” said Swarupananda Patro, leader of the Orissa Minority Forum and the All Orissa Baptist Churches Federation.
Times of India Reports:
Violence also spread to new areas with an angry mob setting ablaze a church and a missionary hostel at Manhira village in Loisingha area of Bolangir district. Communal clashes were also reported from Gajapati, Sundergarh and Rayagada districts, prompting the administration to hold flag march, organize peace meets at different places including Kandhmal and start relief camps.
Union minister of state for home Sriprakash Jaiswal took stock of the situation and rapped the Naveen Patnaik-led Orissa government for inept handling of the situation. "Based on the reports made available to us, I can say the situation isn’t under control. But the CM has assured to bring it under control," Jaiswal told reporters in Bhubaneswar. "Had proper steps been taken, the situation would have been under control. The priority is to stop violence. Hopefully, the state government will successfully manage the situation within 48 hours," he added.
With the situation remaining highly volatile across Kandhmal and people in large numbers escaping to the safety of forests, the administration extended curfew from seven to nine towns and sought immediate deployment of additional forces to curb violence. DGP G C Nanda said the Centre was rushing in 11 more companies of CRPF and three additional companies of RAF. "The situation, though tense, is under control. There have been sporadic incidents, but the administration is alert," the DGP said.
Frenzied mobs continued to run amok, setting a large number of houses in different parts of the southern Orissa district on fire. They also damaged more churches and prayer halls. What have left the administration worried are reports of retaliatory action by Christians, leading to clashes at some places. The CM told the assembly, "Gayadhar Digal of Kasiapadar village in Phiringia was killed on Wednesday morning. So far 54 people have been arrested and 70 criminal cases filed in connection with the communal carnage.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Orissa Violence: More Christians killed to satisfy the ego of VHP leaders
New Wave of Violence Against Christians in Orissa State
Updated at 7 pm on Wednesday 27 August 2008
By Michael Ireland
More than 600 churches have been demolished, 4,000 Christians forced to flee from their villages, and at least 25 killed as a result of violent persecution in the state of Orissa in eastern India.
Reports from the area say Vishwa Hindu Parishad religious leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his associates were murdered in the Kandhamal District of Orissa on Saturday, August 23.
Read More
From Reuters Alertnet
Escalating Anti-Christian Violence in India
News updates from google
Orissa violence: Minorities panel seeks report from state
Orissa Update: DNA News - Two Christians Burnt in VHP Bandh
Expressindia » Story
| Orissa violence: Minorities panel seeks report from state |
New Delhi, Aug 26: Taking serious note of violent attacks on tribal Christians in Orissa in the aftermath of the killing of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, the National Commission of Minorities (NCM) today sought a comprehensive report from the state government. "NCM has sought entire details of the episode asking the government to explain how the problem started, what are the casualties, which areas are affected and what the government is doing to contain the violence," NCM Chairman Md Shafi Qureshi said. Chief Secretary of Orissa has been asked to submit the report carrying all these details by Tuesday evening. |
Expressindia » Story
7 more die in Orissa, churches burnt; Vatican condemns
Bhubaneswar, August 26: Seven people were killed, four of them in police firing, in unabated violence in Orissa's Kandhamal district, taking the toll to nine, in the backlash to the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati as curfew was clamped in all major towns of the district. Four persons persons were killed when the police opened fire to disperse a mob which attacked places of worship, prayer halls and shops at Barakhama in Kandhamal district, Director General of Police Gopal Chandra Nanda said.
Three persons were killed when their houses were torched in Raikia area around midnight last night, official sources said.
Two others, including a woman, were killed when a missionary-run orphanage was set on fire on Monday.
Almost the entire Kandhamal district was placed under indefinite curfew following continued violence. All major towns are under curfew and Rapid Action Force (RAF), CRPF and state police were deployed, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Southern Division) Satyabrata Sahu said.
"The district has also been made a no entry zone. No one is being allowed to enter from outside as part of steps to restore normalcy and peace," Sahu said.
Sporadic violence was also reported from Gajapati, Rayagada, Sundergarh and Kendrapara districts during the day.
Read more
Monday, August 25, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati shot dead: VHP attacks Christians
VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, who was leading a campaign against cow slaughter and religious conversion, allegedly by Christian missionaries, was shot dead at his Jalespata ashram, some 340 km from here. "More than 30 men opened fire at the octogenarian leader, killing him and four others," district collector Kishan Kumar told IANS over phone.
"The attackers overpowered the 10 security personnel opened fire from their automatic rifles," Kumar said. "We have found a letter from the spot which indicates it may be a Maoist attack." The attack took place at around 7.30 p.m.
Saraswati was a member of the central advisory committee of the VHP.
"Thousands of policemen and paramilitary force troopers have been deployed in the district to avoid any untoward incidents," he said.
Kandhamal district, with a population of around 600,000 including 150,000 Christians, is considered one of the most communally sensitive regions in the state.
The region has witnessed numerous clashes between Hindus and Christians in the past.
Saraswati has served tribes, mainly Kandhs, in the region. His main ashram is located at Chakapad in the same district. The place where he was killed houses a residential school for girls and an ashram.
More
From War on Terror site
"The attackers overpowered the 10 security personnel opened fire from their automatic rifles," Kumar said. "We have found a letter from the spot which indicates it may be a Maoist attack." The attack took place at around 7.30 p.m.
Saraswati was a member of the central advisory committee of the VHP.
"Thousands of policemen and paramilitary force troopers have been deployed in the district to avoid any untoward incidents," he said.
Kandhamal district, with a population of around 600,000 including 150,000 Christians, is considered one of the most communally sensitive regions in the state.
The region has witnessed numerous clashes between Hindus and Christians in the past.
Saraswati has served tribes, mainly Kandhs, in the region. His main ashram is located at Chakapad in the same district. The place where he was killed houses a residential school for girls and an ashram.
More
From War on Terror site
Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati shot dead VHP attacks
VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, who was leading a campaign against cow slaughter and religious conversion, allegedly by Christian missionaries, was shot dead at his Jalespata ashram, some 340 km from here. "More than 30 men opened fire at the octogenarian leader, killing him and four others," district collector Kishan Kumar told IANS over phone.
"The attackers overpowered the 10 security personnel opened fire from their automatic rifles," Kumar said. "We have found a letter from the spot which indicates it may be a Maoist attack." The attack took place at around 7.30 p.m.
Saraswati was a member of the central advisory committee of the VHP.
The authorities have clamped orders prohibiting the gathering of four or more people in the entire district. Security has been beefed up in the area.
Thousands of people blocked roads at several places in the state. The state government has asked the police and district administrative heads to remain alert.
"There have been sporadic incidents of road and train blockades in the state," inspector general of police Pradeep Kapoor told IANS. A high alert has been sounded across the state, he said.
"Thousands of policemen and paramilitary force troopers have been deployed in the district to avoid any untoward incidents," he said.
Kandhamal district, with a population of around 600,000 including 150,000 Christians, is considered one of the most communally sensitive regions in the state.
The region has witnessed numerous clashes between Hindus and Christians in the past.
Saraswati has served tribes, mainly Kandhs, in the region. His main ashram is located at Chakapad in the same district. The place where he was killed houses a residential school for girls and an ashram.
"The attackers overpowered the 10 security personnel opened fire from their automatic rifles," Kumar said. "We have found a letter from the spot which indicates it may be a Maoist attack." The attack took place at around 7.30 p.m.
Saraswati was a member of the central advisory committee of the VHP.
The authorities have clamped orders prohibiting the gathering of four or more people in the entire district. Security has been beefed up in the area.
Thousands of people blocked roads at several places in the state. The state government has asked the police and district administrative heads to remain alert.
"There have been sporadic incidents of road and train blockades in the state," inspector general of police Pradeep Kapoor told IANS. A high alert has been sounded across the state, he said.
"Thousands of policemen and paramilitary force troopers have been deployed in the district to avoid any untoward incidents," he said.
Kandhamal district, with a population of around 600,000 including 150,000 Christians, is considered one of the most communally sensitive regions in the state.
The region has witnessed numerous clashes between Hindus and Christians in the past.
Saraswati has served tribes, mainly Kandhs, in the region. His main ashram is located at Chakapad in the same district. The place where he was killed houses a residential school for girls and an ashram.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Muslims in the national scene
The field of education provides the evidence. If India's literacy rate is 63.07 percent, Muslims are way behind at 41.27 percent. The literacy rate among Muslim women is just 21.66 percent as against the national average of 40.54 percent, according to surveys carried out by Friends for Education.
Not more than two percent Muslims are in government jobs. Of the 479 judges at an all India level, only 30 are Muslims - that makes it just 6.26 percent. Of the 3,284 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, just 120 are Muslims.
The government-backed Sachar Committee and the Planning Commission report the pathetic educational state of Muslims in India.
On the electoral front, despite having substantial numbers - such as constituting about 20 percent of Uttar Pradesh's population and around 10 percent in other important states, Muslims have not really mattered in electoral politics.
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Not more than two percent Muslims are in government jobs. Of the 479 judges at an all India level, only 30 are Muslims - that makes it just 6.26 percent. Of the 3,284 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, just 120 are Muslims.
The government-backed Sachar Committee and the Planning Commission report the pathetic educational state of Muslims in India.
On the electoral front, despite having substantial numbers - such as constituting about 20 percent of Uttar Pradesh's population and around 10 percent in other important states, Muslims have not really mattered in electoral politics.
read it all
National People's Tribunal to hear the horror stories of police atrocities victims in terror related cases
Submitted by Tarique Anwar on 21 August 2008 - 3:01pm.
By Mohammed Siddique, TwoCircles.net,
Hyderabad : In first of its kind move by the Indian NGOs and Human Rights Organizations, a national level People's Tribunal will start its three day sitting in Hyderabad from Friday (August 22) to hear the stories of atrocities, torture, harassment and victimization by the police and intelligence agencies of the members of Muslim minority in the name of fight against terrorism.
The People's Tribunal with a jury comprising of retired High Court and Supreme Court judges, senior lawyers and human rights activists, will hear as many as 70 such innocent victims or their family members their tales of horrors.
The People's Tribunal, which will sit at the Siasat Auditorium, will also hear the versions of the lawyers who dared to take up the cause of the innocent people and who were attacked in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and other place.
read more
By Mohammed Siddique, TwoCircles.net,
Hyderabad : In first of its kind move by the Indian NGOs and Human Rights Organizations, a national level People's Tribunal will start its three day sitting in Hyderabad from Friday (August 22) to hear the stories of atrocities, torture, harassment and victimization by the police and intelligence agencies of the members of Muslim minority in the name of fight against terrorism.
The People's Tribunal with a jury comprising of retired High Court and Supreme Court judges, senior lawyers and human rights activists, will hear as many as 70 such innocent victims or their family members their tales of horrors.
The People's Tribunal, which will sit at the Siasat Auditorium, will also hear the versions of the lawyers who dared to take up the cause of the innocent people and who were attacked in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and other place.
read more
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Is Arundhati Roy acting Irresponsibly?
Arundhati wrong in advocating freedom for Kashmir: Cong
Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi, Aug 19: Congress has reacted sharply over author and activist Arundhati Roy’s statement that the people of Kashmir have made themselves abundantly clear that they want complete freedom and the government should pay heed to their demands.
Congress spokesperson told media that Roy has given a very irresponsible statement and the law of the land would deal with it. The party further reacted by saying that India is committed to the cause of Jammu and Kashmir but there is no need for negotiation on this issue.
Roy who had advocated freedom of Kashmir in a rally on Monday had said, “ The reaction of the people in Kashmir is actually a referendum. People don't need anyone to represent them; they are representing themselves. India needs freedom from Kashmir as much as Kashmir needs freedom from India.”
Read it here
Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi, Aug 19: Congress has reacted sharply over author and activist Arundhati Roy’s statement that the people of Kashmir have made themselves abundantly clear that they want complete freedom and the government should pay heed to their demands.
Congress spokesperson told media that Roy has given a very irresponsible statement and the law of the land would deal with it. The party further reacted by saying that India is committed to the cause of Jammu and Kashmir but there is no need for negotiation on this issue.
Roy who had advocated freedom of Kashmir in a rally on Monday had said, “ The reaction of the people in Kashmir is actually a referendum. People don't need anyone to represent them; they are representing themselves. India needs freedom from Kashmir as much as Kashmir needs freedom from India.”
Read it here
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Shabana Azmi: Indian Muslims safer, but face discrimination
Indian Muslims safer, but face discrimination: Shabana Azmi
Submitted by Tarique Anwar on 16 August 2008 - 4:58pm.
By IANS,
New Delhi : Indian Muslims are in a "safer place" as they have a "stake and space in Indian democracy" as compared to Muslims in other parts of the world, feels noted Bollywood actor Shabana Azmi; but she is unhappy that there is still discrimination against the community.
Accusing Indian politicians for promoting a stereotype image of the Muslim community, Azmi, in an interview with television journalist Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN's "Devil's Advocate", also blamed the community for allowing themselves to listen to the fundamentalists.
Apprehending that the lingering Kashmir crisis could lead to a Hindu-Muslim divide elsewhere in the country, Azmi, also a noted social activist, sounded bitter for being unable to buy a house in Mumbai because she is a Muslim.
Reposing her faith in the country's democracy, Azmi said: "I think Indian Muslims are in a safer place because the Indian Muslim has a stake and space in Indian democracy."
"It's a very huge thing that we are part of a democracy and Indian Muslims can aspire to become a Shah Rukh Khan, can aspire to become Irfan Pathan, the President of India, and that makes the Muslims far more hopeful than those in other parts of the world," said Azmi.
Azmi's interview is to be telecast at 8.30 p.m. Sunday.
She said that Indian democracy lacks the understanding of security for minorities while Indian politics makes only "token gestures" to Muslims but never addresses the "real issues" afflicting them.
"I think there is not enough understanding of the fact that in a democracy how you treat the security of the minority must be a very important part for the success of a democracy," she said.
"You cannot only make token gestures and actually let them be in the state that they are as the Rajinder Sachar Committee report shows. Token gestures are made, but real issues are never addressed."
Responding to suggestions of discrimination against the Muslim community, Azmi said with a tinge of bitterness: "I cannot get a house in Mumbai. I wanted to buy a flat in Mumbai and it wasn't given to me because I was a Muslim and I read the same about Saif (Ali Khan)."
"Now, I mean, if Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi cannot get a flat in Mumbai because they are Muslims, then what are we talking about?," said Azmi.
Responding to Thapar's query on her feelings about the Western perception of "Islam as a threat and Muslims as figures of fear and hate", Azmi said she felt "exasperation, anger, hurt and bewilderment".
But she agreed with Thapar's suggestion that part of the onus is on Muslims to change the image of their religion and community.
"I think it is. I would accept that. I don't think that the Muslim leadership has bothered to clear the air about what Islam actually is," she said.
She added that "the community is also allowing itself to listen to the fundamentalists, who actually are not their leaders at all."
Asked if Muslims need their own leaders, Azmi said: "No, no, no, no. Jawaharlal Nehru was a leader of Muslims and that's the way it should be. You don't need a Muslim leader for that."
She also blamed politicians for promoting a stereotype image of the Muslim community and stifling their moderate and liberal voices, but added that there was a fledgling resurgence of liberalism in the community.
"You look at all the politicians, whether it is Atal Bihari Vajpayee, or Indira Gandhi or anybody, the minute it's a Muslim question, you get all the dariwalas (bearded people) and Maulvis only to speak," she said.
She, however, added: "There is a resurgence of the moderate liberal voice which is now taking on the affairs of the community."
Azmi also agreed with Thapar's suggestion that the present crisis in Kashmir could create a Hindu-Muslim divide elsewhere in the country.
"Absolutely. I can see that happening. That's why I am so distressed over what is happening in Kashmir. For heaven's sake it should be brought to a stop and it should have been brought to a stop right when they started that nonsense," she said.
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Submitted by Tarique Anwar on 16 August 2008 - 4:58pm.
By IANS,
New Delhi : Indian Muslims are in a "safer place" as they have a "stake and space in Indian democracy" as compared to Muslims in other parts of the world, feels noted Bollywood actor Shabana Azmi; but she is unhappy that there is still discrimination against the community.
Accusing Indian politicians for promoting a stereotype image of the Muslim community, Azmi, in an interview with television journalist Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN's "Devil's Advocate", also blamed the community for allowing themselves to listen to the fundamentalists.
Apprehending that the lingering Kashmir crisis could lead to a Hindu-Muslim divide elsewhere in the country, Azmi, also a noted social activist, sounded bitter for being unable to buy a house in Mumbai because she is a Muslim.
Reposing her faith in the country's democracy, Azmi said: "I think Indian Muslims are in a safer place because the Indian Muslim has a stake and space in Indian democracy."
"It's a very huge thing that we are part of a democracy and Indian Muslims can aspire to become a Shah Rukh Khan, can aspire to become Irfan Pathan, the President of India, and that makes the Muslims far more hopeful than those in other parts of the world," said Azmi.
Azmi's interview is to be telecast at 8.30 p.m. Sunday.
She said that Indian democracy lacks the understanding of security for minorities while Indian politics makes only "token gestures" to Muslims but never addresses the "real issues" afflicting them.
"I think there is not enough understanding of the fact that in a democracy how you treat the security of the minority must be a very important part for the success of a democracy," she said.
"You cannot only make token gestures and actually let them be in the state that they are as the Rajinder Sachar Committee report shows. Token gestures are made, but real issues are never addressed."
Responding to suggestions of discrimination against the Muslim community, Azmi said with a tinge of bitterness: "I cannot get a house in Mumbai. I wanted to buy a flat in Mumbai and it wasn't given to me because I was a Muslim and I read the same about Saif (Ali Khan)."
"Now, I mean, if Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi cannot get a flat in Mumbai because they are Muslims, then what are we talking about?," said Azmi.
Responding to Thapar's query on her feelings about the Western perception of "Islam as a threat and Muslims as figures of fear and hate", Azmi said she felt "exasperation, anger, hurt and bewilderment".
But she agreed with Thapar's suggestion that part of the onus is on Muslims to change the image of their religion and community.
"I think it is. I would accept that. I don't think that the Muslim leadership has bothered to clear the air about what Islam actually is," she said.
She added that "the community is also allowing itself to listen to the fundamentalists, who actually are not their leaders at all."
Asked if Muslims need their own leaders, Azmi said: "No, no, no, no. Jawaharlal Nehru was a leader of Muslims and that's the way it should be. You don't need a Muslim leader for that."
She also blamed politicians for promoting a stereotype image of the Muslim community and stifling their moderate and liberal voices, but added that there was a fledgling resurgence of liberalism in the community.
"You look at all the politicians, whether it is Atal Bihari Vajpayee, or Indira Gandhi or anybody, the minute it's a Muslim question, you get all the dariwalas (bearded people) and Maulvis only to speak," she said.
She, however, added: "There is a resurgence of the moderate liberal voice which is now taking on the affairs of the community."
Azmi also agreed with Thapar's suggestion that the present crisis in Kashmir could create a Hindu-Muslim divide elsewhere in the country.
"Absolutely. I can see that happening. That's why I am so distressed over what is happening in Kashmir. For heaven's sake it should be brought to a stop and it should have been brought to a stop right when they started that nonsense," she said.
Read Full
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