Although Christmas 2010 in Kandhamal district of Orissa passed "peacefully" with the vigilant armed Special Operation Groups and Riot Police Force guarding the villages under the supervision of the District Collector, the Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police, the plight of the Christians there continues. Social exclusion and economic boycott by their Hindu brethren is the new problem faced by the Christians who survived the 2008 anti-Christian violence.

On18-19 January 2011, the National Human Rights Commission conducted a two-day camp at Bhubaenshwar in Orissa. The full Commission was presided by the Chairperson Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan. In the matter of Kandhamal violence, the Commission directed the State Government to submit a detailed report and a contingency plan to deal with such situation.

Of the total 828 cases filed at different police stations relating to Kandhamal riots, convictions have taken place in 56 cases. "Since the process of conviction is on, the police expect more accused to be punished soon," a NHRC member said. However, there have been more acquittals than convictions, says Fr. Dibya Parichha, Secretary of the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Archdiocesan Justice and Peace Commission.

On 12 January 2011, Christians and human rights workers of Orissa met Ms Margaret Sekaggya, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, in Bhubaneswar, Orissa. The Special Rapporteur was invited by the Indian government for a ten-day visitation. ¡§We celebrated Christmas under the shadow of guns,¡¨ the villagers shared their frightening situation to the Special Rapporteur, adding that despite Orissa government¡¦s claim, the authorities have not rehabilitated the displaced persons.

Earlier, at a National Consultation on Anti-Conversion Laws organised by National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), in New Delhi on 13-14 December 2010, Dr. H.T. Sangliana, Vice President of National Commission for Minority informed that the Minority Commission had sent 40 points of recommendation to the Chief Minister of Orissa to improve the condition of victims of Kandhamal Violence.

Meanwhile, having found the bloody body of Reverend Saul Pradhan, 45, near a pond in Pakala village, on 12 January, the Christians fear the Hindu fundamentalists have resumed their attack, though the police claim that the pastor died of cold waves.

In response to the outbreak of the violence against Christians in Orissa that saw scores of Christians killed and thousands displaced, ACPP issued SUA080828(4) on August 2008.

Sources: Local sources, National Human rights Commission in New Delhi of India, the Hindustan Times, UCANews and Secular Action Network.

Orissa Governor, Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, visited Balliguda, the biggest division in Kandhamal district, for supervision of the rehabilitation programme- for the first time in 18 months after the outbreak of the communal violence. He was told by the victims there that the government compensation was still inadequate and the situation of Christians was still insecure.

On 3 February, a European Union (EU) team led by European Commission counselor (head of political affairs), Christophe Manet, discussed the situation in the region with government officials, the highest rank of the state police, Christian leaders, civil society groups and social activists in Bhubaneswar. On the next day, the team visited Kandhamal where they found that residents of the affected area can only stayed in the temporary shelter as they felt insecure to return to their home villages. The EU team offered to allocate EUR$15 million (US$ 201 million) for rehabilitation of the affected families.

After the visit of the EU team, the Chief Minister of Orissa, Naveen Patnaik, directed the police and district administration officials to expedite implementation of the rehabilitation schemes and to set up a toll-free telephone number (18003456780) to help the victims communicate with the police and district administration.

The trials and investigation on the communal violence have been far from satisfactory. Since the violence against Christians in 2008, police filed only 831 cases for investigation from the 3,232 complaints. By the end of February 2010, the courts have closed about 60 cases, convicting a total of 89 persons and acquitting 251 persons.

The high rate of acquittals was a result of flawed investigation and insufficient professional legal assistance, according to representatives of the Forum of Religious Lawyers for Kandhamal, a volunteer group consisting of 54 priests, brothers and nuns.

On the International Women's Day, about 4,500 women, mostly Hindus, marched in Balliguda to demand interfaith harmony and development in Kandhamal in addition to justice for the survivors of the sectarian violence.

In the wake of the violence against Christians, ACPP issued SUA080828(4) in August 2008 to request adequate remedies for the affected villagers.

Sources:
UCANews, telegraphindia.com, indianexpress.com, prokerala.com, cathnewsindia.com, the Hindu, Indian Times, news.chennaionline.com, prokerala.com

The outbreak of communal violence on Christmas eve of 2007 and again in August 2008 has been depressing the Christians in Kandhmal district of Orissa, even in the festival seasons. In December 2009, they celebrated Christmas amidst fears of recent attacks, under protection of the armed security force provided by the district administration. Interestingly, a Christmas get-together was also organized by the government on 24 December 2009 in the district headquarters at Phulbani, for the first time in the history of Kandhamal.

As a significant step, Gururam Patra from Dharampur, the main accused of the gang rape of a religious nun in August 2008, was eventually arrested on 6 December 2009. With the arrest of Patra, the total number of people held in the case has increased to 19. According to police sources, at least 11 accused of the case were still absconding and efforts were being made to arrest them.

It is reported that after the forcible closure of relief camps, Christian families with about 5,000 people were living in inhumane condition as they were not allowed by Hindustan activists to return to their original villages. Moreover, around 100 people staying in an abandoned market complex at G. Udaygiri of Kandhamal district have been vacated by the local administration as the government was trying to create an appearance of normalcy, regardless of the predicaments of the Christian minority. “Even after 17 months, there is no indication of justice for the survivors of communal violence in Khandamal”, said Fr. Ajay of Jana Vikas, a leading NGO in Kandhamal.

Meanwhile, the survivors of Kandhamal violence have formed the Sampradayik Hinsa Prapidita Sangathana (Association of Victims of Communal Violence) in view of defending their rights. In a memorandum, dated 13 January 2010, they informed Justice Sarat Chandra Mahapatra, the Chairman of Inquiry Commission for Kandhamal violence, of their boycott of the Commission for the reason that, even before conducting a proper inquiry, Justice Sarat had prejudiced the Kandhamal violence as a religious rather than ethnical conflict.

People were dissatisfied with the two fast track courts set up after the violence, as the murderers, including Manoj Pradhan, a legislator belonging to Bharatiya Janata Party, were acquitted in several cases while witnesses were still being threatened, cajoled and bribed by arsonists facing trial.

To urge the state and the central governments in India to ensure protection of the Christians and to bring perpetrators to justice, ACPP issued SUA080828(4) in August 2008.

Sources:
Indian Currents, UCANews, Times of India, http://communalism.blogspot.com, http://indiachristians.blogspot.com, and local sources

Slow trials and a series of acquittals of the accused perpetuators of Kandhamal violence by Fast Track Courts on the ground of non-availability of witnesses, have become a grave concern for human rights activists. According to Dhirendra Panda, a Hindu human rights activist, "justice has been derailed."

On 3 November, two human rights groups, Common Concern and Orissa Manavik Adhikar Surakshya Abhijan (Orissa Human Rights Protection Campaign), organized a meeting at Lohia Bhavan, Bhubaneswar for a critical analysis of the root causes for the failure of the criminal justice system. The participants of the meeting pointed out the following disturbing factors:

• the proof and marks of violence have disappeared or have been washed away, as the investigation started very late;
• most of the independent witnesses turned hostile as they were threatened by the accused in the village;
• faulty and biased methods of police investigation, and framing of charge sheets and presentations in the Courts weakened the cases; and
• public prosecutors are mostly found biased against the victims.

In a letter dated 25 September, about 21 US lawmakers, led by Republican Trent Franks, have urged the Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to “bring to justice the perpetrators of these heinous crimes and ensure that the victims are able to return to their homes and live without fear of further persecution or attack.” In the same letter, they have also cautioned that such attacks “threaten not only India's reputation for religious diversity, but also the very stability of India's secular democracy.” They are gravely concerned on that, if Hindu extremists can act with impunity towards religious minorities in India, these extremists and their ideologies will begin to affect international security as well.

A Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) delegation led by Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes, the Secretary General of CBCI, called on the Home Minister of India, Mr. P. Chidambaram and the Minister for Minority Affairs, Mr. Salman Khurshid on 19 November. During the meeting, the delegation informed him of the latest development in Kandhamal and urged him to take appropriate measures to bring justice to the victims of communal violence. In a brief report presented to the Minister on the current situation in Kandhamal, the delegation highlighted the following issues:

1. laxity on the part of the District Administration in providing adequate building materials;
2. danger of youth falling into the hands of lawless elements due to loss of personal belongings and financial security;
3. malicious propaganda against Christians in Orissa, particularly in the local media;
4. forceful conversion of Christians returning to the villages of Kandhamal;
5. general social boycott of Christians in Kandhamal;
6. backwardness of the Fast Track Court premises due to strong presence of Sangh Parivar members threatening the witnesses and;
7. inadequate preparation of the cases by police.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) has proposed to make the last Sunday of August a National Day for Indian Martyrs to commemorate the Christians who died in the August 2008 massacres in Orissa.

In response to the outbreak of the violence against Christians in Orissa that saw scores of Christians killed and thousands displaced, ACPP issued urgent appeal SUA080828(4) in 28 Aug 2008,.

Sources:
AsiaNews, CBCI News (http://cbcisite.com/), the Indian Catholic, the Times of India, local sources

A year has passed since the outbreak of the attacks against Christians in Kandhamal district, Orissa. To date, many victims are still taking shelter in two government-run relief camps in the district. To coincide with the anniversary of the incident, the Catholic dioceses in India observed 23 August as “Peace Day” while the Church in Madhya Pradesh observed 24 August as Martyrs’ Day. The government of Orissa made elaborate security arrangements to ensure peace during this.

Since 24 August 2009, the state police has registered 831 cases based on the violence but only 310 charges were filed and the remaining are still being investigated, according to a Church official. The administration handed over 84 cases to the two fast-track courts, which have disposed of 12 so far. The total number of persons convicted relating to the riot increased to 18.

While the convictions showed Christians a beam of hope for justice, there is an appalling rate of acquittals: over 47 persons have been acquitted. Pradhan, for example, who was charged with 14 cases, has been acquitted in two cases.

To mark an encouraging development for Christians in the district, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has placed India in its Watch List 2009, through an “Indian Chapter”, which is an addition to the Annual Report 2009 of USCIRF.

In response to the outbreak of the violence against Christians in Orissa, ACPP issued SUA080828(4) in August 2008.

Sources:
UCA News, Orissa Alive, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Zee News, Sify News, Trak.In News

On 8 July 2009, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister S. N. Patro stated in the Orissa Assembly that the Orissa government had disbursed Rs 42.3 lakh (US$ 87,705) as assistance for repairing churches and prayer houses damaged during the communal violence last year.

According to the Minister, 196 churches and prayer houses were damaged during the riot in Kandhamal, while prayer halls were also vandalized in Bargarh district.

Official sources said that this was the first time in the history of Orissa that financial assistance was provided for repairing and re-building religious institutions.

The financial assistance from the state government to repair damaged worship places during riot was approved a day after the central government announced officially on 7 July 2009, that it had disbursed Rs 1.05 crore (US$ 217,707) to riot victims in Kandhamal.

Meanwhile, the white paper presented by the Home Department in the Orissa Assembly stated that as many as 1,004 cases were registered and 1,218 persons were arrested in connection with the communal violence in Kandhamal last year, as a result of which 40 people were killed and 136 others injured.

As 23 August 2009 marks the first anniversary of the outbreak of communal violence in Kandhamal, Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, along with other Christian leaders, issued an appeal to designate this day as a Peace Day to commemorate the murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and his disciples. This appeal seems to have drawn a positive response from Orissa Minority Forum. The president of the Forum, Swarupananda Patra, and Utkal Christian Council spokesperson, Bibhudata Das, have said they would organize a series of events including seminars, debates and painting competitions for a month to commemorate the day.

Archbishop Cheenath also stated that the situation in the violence-scarred district of Kandhamal was still tense and Christians were feeling insecure because many perpetrators were free to move around. "The government should take immediate steps to arrest the culprits and restore confidence," he added.

Promptly responding to the outbreak of communal violence in Orissa, ACPP issued SUA080828(4) on 28 August 2008, and demanded protection of Christian minorities in Orissa.

Sources:
the Hindu,
Indopia(Indian online newspaper),
Times of India

On 23 March, a petition filed by the victims of violence in Orissa came up before the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice posted it for 6 April.  The petition aims to restrain the Orissa administration from forcibly closing the relief camps, where about 3,200 people are still staying seven months after the outbreak of violence in Kandhamal.  Conditions are still not conducive for return; those who had gone back to their villages were threatened by Hindu fundamentalists to either convert to Hinduism or leave.

As the state of Orissa prepares for assembly polls and parliamentary election in April, people displaced from Kandhamal have appealed to the Election Commission to postpone elections in the district until 22,000 people missing since the violence broke out are accounted for.  In a petition filed before the Commission on 25 March, indigenous people under the banner of the Kuidina Forum for Peace and Justice, supported by Citizens for Justice and Peace, expressed concern that thousands of voters who have been displaced from their homes but not staying in relief camps, would not be able to exercise their right to vote.

Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar diocese has demanded to set up polling booths at the relief camps in riot-hit Kandhamal district and to provide postal votes for the members of minority communities now staying outside the district.  “It is the responsibility of the state government and the Election Commission to ensure that election is held in Kandhamal with adequate security in place,” he said.  The election identity cards of many people have been burned during the violence.

Meanwhile, on 21 March, Gobinda Pujari was arrested by crime branch in cooperation with local police from K Nuagaon near Baliguda in Kandhmal district, for his alleged involvement in the rape of a 29-year-old nun.  He is the 14th person arrested where 30 cases have been registered in connection with the case.

A total of 630 people have been arrested in connection with the communal violence that started in Kandhamal district after the killing of a Hindu fundamentalist group’s leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati in August 2008.  The violence targeted the Christians although Maoist groups have claimed responsibility.  ACPP issued a SUA080828(4) to urge the state and the central governments in India to ensure protection of the Christians and to bring perpetrators to justice.


Sources:
The Telegraph
The Hindu
The NDTV

In mid-November 2008, Hindu fundamentalist groups threatened to organize a bandh (closure) all over Orissa on Christmas day if the Orissa government fails to arrest the culprits responsible for the murder of their leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswatilast in August.  This became another cause of fear as it gave a potential occasion for another violence as in December 2007.  Fortunately, on 19 December the fundamentalist groups announced to cancel the bandh.

Earlier on 10 December, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India’s Commissions on Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, as well as Justice and Peace, submitted a memorandum to the Home Minister, who in turn assured that all efforts would be taken to ensure Christmas celebrations in Orissa.  However, there is still fear in spite of the assurance.

The District Collector has encouraged the people to have celebrations in camps and secured parishes, but a number of parishes decided to start mid-night mass celebrations at 3:30 or 4:30 pm to ensure people to travel home safely before nightfall.

According to Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Chuttack-Bhubandeswar, Christmas Day was observed peacefully in most parishes in Kandhamal, compared to the celebrations in 2007 when Christians had to spend the season in forests and relief camps after Hindu groups burned their homes.  AsiaNews, however, reported that 2 small shops in the town of Sugadbadi were set on fire on 23 December, and a Christian center in the village Bakingia was also burned on 26 December.

In general, there was massive deployment of forces to guarantee security during Christmas season.  Proactive steps have also been taken by the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police, the civil administration and local police was patrolling while local people made arrangements for their celebration.  On Christmas day, the federal government provided a helicopter to patrol Kandhamal and Sambalpur, a tribal-dominated district.

Some NGOs also worked to bring about changes in remote areas of Kandhamal, providing basic amenities, food, medicine, clothing and assisting them as per ethics of humanity instead of religion.

It was also reported that Kandhamal district administration closed down the relief camp at Phulbani, although the chief minister maintained that the government would review the situation before withdrawal of paramilitary forces.  Christian community has demanded deployment in the district until general elections in the state in April.

As of 18 December, it was recorded that 8,641 people are staying in 8 camps.  A Capuchin friar who stayed with the people in the camp during Christmas, shared that the people live in small canvas tents, with 5-7 families living together in each tent.  He also said that there was neither electricity nor water facilities, and young and old, men and women lived in the same tent under various types of inconveniences.

Currently, the National Commission for Justice, Peace and Development (NCJPD) is organizing a program on trauma counseling, in collaboration with the Neuro Linguistic Program and the Association of Franciscan Families in India.  Twenty-seven grassroots animators and human rights defenders from nine local and grassroots organizations completed a Training of Trainors programme in early January and have already proceeded to give counseling to the victims.

Hotline Asia has been following up the situation in Orissa since December 2007 when fundamentalist groups attacked Christians and their properties, forcing them to flee to forests.  SUA080828(4) was issued in August 2008 when another wave of violent attacks that spread to other states started after the death of a radical Hindu leader.  Christians were blamed for the assassination, although Maoist groups claimed responsibility.  The SUA urged the authorities to protect lives and properties of Christians in Orissa and to bring to justice the perpetrators of such violence.  Fear continues as no action has been taken yet and those responsible for the killings and violence are still roaming free.


Sources:
AsiaNews
Local Source

Three months after anti-Christian violence broke out in Kandhamal, Orissa’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik admitted that at least three of the district’s 12 predominantly tribal blocks “are not yet calm”.  Previously for weeks he had repeated that “everything was under control”.  118 deaths have been certified although sources say there have been at least 500.  In addition, more than 54,000 has been displaced, including 10,000 dalit tribals forced to live in refugee camps, out of fear of Hindu extremists.  Violence and forced re-conversion to Hinduism are still taking place in the state, generating fear and terror, partly because of the impunity enjoyed by the attackers.

At a visit to Kandhamal District on 1-2 November, the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) noted that two months after the initial violence, the atmosphere of fear, mistrust and terrible scars remain.  Many people staying in government camps have gone back to their villages or other places in search of work and most of them visit their villages during the day a few times a week.  While younger children were being taught within the camp, older students cold not pursue their studies without books and teachers and they worry about preparation for examinations in December.

Many peace meetings have also been held and the Chief Minister of Orissa had issued some orders about textbooks and clothing.  Local groups reiterate that the state cannot withdraw from its responsibilities on providing education and livelihood opportunities, at the same time, it should not give space and opportunity to the Sangh Parivar to incite violence and hatred in the name of religion.

In an Indian parliament meeting on 24 October, Home Minister Shivraj Patil promised to enact law to deploy federal forces in the states experiencing violence without the consent of the state government and suggesting easier methods of delivering relief and compensation, as well as imposition of heavier penalties on those involved in sectarian violence.

A seven-member team from the National Human Rights Commission also started its investigations on the anti-Christian violence on 13–18 November 2008, touring the riot affected areas and the government-run relief camps.

It was noted that while several non-governmental organizations supported by Christian organizations are ready for social welfare activities, not many of them spoke against the human rights violations that occurred.  They are either silent or absent.

Response from Church institutions and leaders continues in various levels:

- the Catholic Bishops Conference of India’s National Commission for Justice, Peace and Development (NCJPD) continues to raise awareness of the issue through presentation at the UN Human Rights Council on 29 October, and a report on the fact-finding mission and visitation to victims and groups in Orissa on 20-23 September. 

- Previously, they have mobilized international pressure on Indian authorities through Urgent Appeals with Hotline Asia and through the Justice and Peace Commission of Episcopal Conferences.

- Bishops of three Orissa dioceses have sent a letter to the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, to call the central government to continue the deployment of special forces in the state until after the upcoming election scheduled for 9 April 2009.

- With the widespread violence that erupted in Orissa and other states following the death of a radical Hindu leader in late August, Hotline Asia issued SUA080828(4) to request the authorities to protect lives and properties in Orissa, provide compensation for victims, and bring perpetrators to justice.


Sources:
Local Source
AIDWA
AsiaNews

From 24 August to 30 September 2008, violence against Christians in Orissa continued unabated: 178 churches were destroyed, as well as 13 schools and colleges, and 4,600 homes were set on fire, killing 60 Christians, injuring more than 18,000 and creating more than 50,000 refugees.  Starting in Orissa, the violence has spread to other states such as Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh.  It is believed that attacks in other states were attampts to divert attention from what is still going on in Orissa. 

In the latest incident, 3 villages were attacked in Udaygiri block in Kandhamal district, where a woman was killed and a dozen people injured, eyewitnesses claimed that the police were present but did not take any action.  However, when some Christian families began to defend themselves, the police only arrested 10 people.

Twenty-three thousand people, mostly from the minority community who do not feel safe in their villages preferred to stay in the 17 relief camps set up by the government.  However, some of them also left the camps which failed to provide services and facilities.  In addition to those in camps, another 40,000 people have been displaced and are in hiding.

It was reported that Christians in the Kandhamal district did not have choice but to 're-convert or die' and it was reported that thousands of Christians have already been forcibly converted to Hinduism, and the new converts were also forced to attack Christians and places of worship.

More than one month after the outbreak of violence, many of those affected have not been able to file the First Information Report (FIR) with the police, and the District authority was reported to prevent the civil society to help with providing legal aid.  Thus perpetrators of the violence are able to move freely and continue to intimidate Adivasis and Dalits.

In the wake of the violence, Christian delegations met the President and Prime Minister of India to urge them to stop the violence in Orissa.  Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubansewar also approached the Supreme Court for the protection of the Christians in Orissa.  On 11 September, the Orissa Home Secretary submitted a detailed affidavit in response to the Archbishop.  The National Human Rights Commission has also sent its investigation Team to the district in response to the petition filed by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India on 16 September 2008.  On 19 September, the Central Government has also warned the state governments in Orissa and Karnataka that it would invoke Article 355 of the Constitution of India.  The Article is a rarely used constitutional provision that typically holds out the threat of dismissal of a state government and imposition of President's rule if the warning of the Centre goes unheeded.  Through the National Commission for Justice, Peace and Development (NCJPD), the issue was also presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council on 17 and 29 September.  However, local groups lamented that such efforts have made little difference in the situation in Orissa.

Earlier on 29 August, more than 25,000 Catholic institutes closed their doors while students and teachers marched peacefully through the streets to call for an end to the violence.  On 5 September, the feast day of the Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata, Pope Benedict XVI called all dioceses to observe a day of fasting and prayer to be in solidarity with the Christians in India, which is also encouraged to be celebrated on a different day.  The Church in India observed a day of fasting and prayer on 7 September.

A 7-day sit-in protest was organized by Christians on 26 September to 2 October in Delhi and was supported by the communities of Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims and Jains in Delhi, in protest of the government's failure to protect Indian citizens in Orissa and other states.

Violence erupted in Orissa after the death of a radical Hindu leader on 23 August and then spread to other states.  Although a leftist group claimed responsibility for the killing, Hindu radicals blamed it on Christians.  To join the local community in stopping the violence in Orissa, Hotline Asia issued SUA080828(4), requesting the authorities to protect lives and properties in Orissa, and bring perpetrators to justice.


Sources:
AsiaNews
Local source