Christians Feeling the heat of Persecution in Chattisgarh

By Vijayesh Lal

(Compass): Christians are feeling the heat of persecution in the state of Chattisgarh in India. There have been several reports of atrocities against Christians in the recent past. Some cases do show the liaison between the fundamentalists and the government machinery especially the police.

Background

Chattisgarh is a state ruled by the BJP since their victory in the elections held in December last year. The BJP won 50 seats in the 90-member state assembly, while the (then) ruling Congress Party had to content itself with a mere 37 seats in a state where 35% of 20 million people are central Indian tribal members.

Christian leaders in Chattisgarh fears that they are heading towards tough time have started coming true. The Bishop Victor Kindo of Raigarh had said of the BJP victory, "The situation is not favorable. The Christian minority community in Chattisgarh is likely to face 'tough times'."

During the campaigning for the then coming elections, the BJP had stressed the conversion issue a lot. Advertisements had been placed in several local newspapers 'depicting a bishop forcibly converting a tribal member while a henchman stood guard over others encaged and waiting to be baptized by the pope's orders.'

The conversion issue had even found place in their election manifesto. The party had promised to ban conversions to Christianity if voted to power, a promise that the BJP is serious about.

A local newspaper, Dainik Bhaskar had reported in March 2005, "The state government has prepared a draft to amend the provisions of the Dharma Swatantraya Adhinayarn (Freedom of Religion) Act, making them more stringent to restrict conversions of poor tribals to Christianity," (See: India's Chhattisgarh State to Strengthen Anti - Conversion Law, March 28th 2005)

Reconversion is also high on the agenda of the BJP affiliates. The Hindu Jagran Manch, an activist group that is an ideological ally of the BJP claimed in April that hundreds of Christians were reconverted in a ceremony on April 2 in Dhamtari district of Chattisgarh. During the reconversion ceremony, former cabinet minister from BJP Dilip Singh Judeo threatened Christian workers, saying, "If Christian missionaries don't stop converting people, we will take up arms." (See: Hindu Activists in India 'Reconvert' Christians, Threaten Missionaries, April 7th 2005)


Recent Incidents

5th June 2005:

Pastor Jaichand Dongre from Moti Chowk, Shankar Nagar, Durg, was having a Sunday service at his place with Church members and visiting believers, when around 11 am they were suddenly attacked by about 200 activists from the Bajrang Dal (Youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad).

The Bajrang Dal people were fully armed and came with a planned strategy. According to eye witnesses they even had two police constables with them.

The activists roughed up the Church members especially the pastor and looted the place, taking away Bibles, Christian literature and Musical instruments.

From there the Christians were taken to the police station where seven men and two women (all Christians) were arrested and charged falsely with disturbing the peace in the area.

According to reports received, they were charged with Section 151 of the Indian Penal Code which says, "Whoever knowingly joins or continues in any assembly of five or more persons likely to cause a disturbance of the public peace, after such assembly has been lawfully commanded to disperse, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both."

This charge was slapped on the Christians meeting peacefully for worship in full accordance with their fundamental right given in Article 19 and 25 of the Indian constitution. Articles 19 promises right to freedom of speech and expression, to assemble peaceably and without arms, while Article 25 provides for freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.

The Bajrang Dal had arranged for false witnesses and some women turned up who gave false witness that they were promised One Lakh rupees (About 2325 US Dollars) each by the Pastor. The Pastor denies even knowing the women.

According to reports received the Police station office Mr. Pandey slapped the Pastor several times and humiliated him. This beating was in addition to the one that the pastor got from the crowd that beat him up all the way to the police station.

When a representative of the minority commission of Madhya Pradesh, Patras Habil, contacted the police station, he was told blankly that the beatings and arrests were due to conversion activities carried on by the Christians and that they deserved it.

When the representative revealed his connection with the Minority Commission the tone of the police officer changed who then claimed to rescue the Christians from the mob who had gathered to kill them all.

Christians in the area met with the Superintendent of Police in the area who assured them of help, but still the Christians were arrested and put in prison for two days. The SP could not do anything because of the many charges leveled against the Christians.

Two days later they were released on Bail after paying a huge sum of money.

The situation in Shankar Nagar, continues to remain tense. The Bajrang Dal has mobilized people against the Christian community in the area. They are unable to take water out of the community hand pump and are also unable to buy food supplies as they face a mass social boycott.

3rd June 2005

Thirteen Christians in Hathod village, Balod, Distrist Durg were called by the Sarpanch (Village Head man) in consultation with the villagers for a meeting. During the meeting the Christians were told to renounce their faith or face the consequences. According the sources, Christians were threatened with grave consequences and were coerced to become Hindus.

According to reports received, the notable fact is that most of the Christians who were asked to renounce their faith have not accepted Christianity recently. They were Christians for quite some time, some of them are even involved in Christian service and having some sort of theological training.

Seven of the thirteen Christians declined the ruling of the Sarpanch and were taken to the police station and locked up in Balod jail. Sources have revealed that the police was hand in glove with the Sarpanch and Hindu fundamentalist leaders in the village. The Christians have been implicated under Sections 151, 107 and 116 of the Indian Penal Code.

Compass spoke to the lawyer of the Christians, Mr. Ram Kishore Sahu, who informed that this type of threatening is not new in the area. Two years ago Christians from the same area were implicated using identical tactics. They are still facing the consequence of choosing to stick to their faith as the case against them is still going on.

Mr. Sahu further said that these are tactics of harassment against simple Christians who are not well off economically to discourage them from following their faith. He did not rule out the influence and involvement of Hindu fundamentalist organizations like the RSS, VHP and the BJP.

Meanwhile the Christians still languish in prison. The orders for their bail have been given, but the Hindu fundamentalists made sure that they had a way of circumventing even this.

Mr. Sahu told Compass that the Bail orders explicitly say that the bail security of Rupees 10,000 for each person has to come from within the village Hathod and that outsiders are not allowed to provide security for bail.

Due to the influence of the Sarpanch and fundamentalists this is currently not possible, for no one wants to help the Christians and risk their status in the village.

At the time of the writing of this report efforts continue to bail the Christians out while the situation in the area remains tense.

Only 1.9 percent (401,035) of the total population (20,833,803) of Chattisgarh are Christians according to the 2001 Census.

Authorities to tear down 109 homes belonging to Christian Tribals in Orissa

Rourkela (AsiaNews) - Koraput district authorities in the state of Orissa (eastern India) have ordered the demolition of the homes of more than 100 Christian Tribals. This could further fuel inter-religious tensions in the city of Jeypore, where many fear a 'cleansing' campaign by Hindu fundamentalists.

Although district collector Shubha Sarma ordered the immediate demolition of 109 homes belonging to Christians, the victims of the decision are certain that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu extremist paramilitary group, is behind it. Recently, the RSS set up a training camp in Jeypore that hosted Orissa Finance Minister Manmohan Samal and Water Resource Minister Rabi Nanda.

Local Christians believe that Nanda, backed by Samal, is responsible for the demolition - both, they fear, intend to 'cleanse' the town.

"It is a very, very tragic situation," said Mgr Alphonse Bilung, Bishop of Rourkela. "These houses are inland, in a semi-forested area, largely inhabited by very poor Tribal people."

"They are receptive to Christianity and this make the fundamentalists angry since the children of these Tribals like those of all faiths and caste now receive an education so they cannot be exploited to the extent they were exploited before," he explained.

As soon as the order was posted, Christians tried to delay the demolition but district collector Shubha Sarma rejected their request. Instead, he ordered the deployment of police forces given the rising tensions. He also refused to speak to press.

"Fundamentalists are continuously plotting schemes to instil terror in the minds of these poor folks, using psychological and economic intimidation," Bishop Bilung said.

Most Tribals are farm labourers who earn day wages and depend on the majority for their livelihood.

Representatives of the local Christian community have asked Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to "stop the inconsiderate expulsion of these poor people on the eve of the monsoon season".

The affected people are so poor, the Bishop points out, that they have very few possessions. "They barely possess a cupboard, and few kitchen utensils bought with much sweat and toil," he said.

"When their houses are destroyed, they will loose whatever they possess and they won't be able to afford a simple shelter against the [coming] rains."

Orissa is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Hindu nationalist political party—until last year, it also controlled the Union government.

The RSS, a paramilitary group linked to the BJP, is dedicated to the violent promotion of the Hindutva (Hinduness), a nationalist ideology whose ultimate goal is the setting up a minority-free, Hindu-only state in India (Hindu Rashtra).

(Courtesy: Asia News)

Missing Pastor found dead in Andhra Pradesh

NEW DELHI, June 6 (Compass) -- Police in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh found the body of Pastor Isaac Raju on June 2. Raju went missing on May 24. Just days earlier, on May 21, the body of Pastor K. Daniel was found with marks suggestive of an acid attack. Both Raju and Daniel pastored churches on the outskirts of the state capital, Hyderabad. A letter sent to a local newspaper claimed the murders were the work of an organization called the "Anti-Christian Forum." After the letter was received, police questioned 150 members of Hindu nationalist organizations but at press time, had no suspects. A reward has now been offered for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the murders.

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Second Pastor Found Dead in Andhra Pradesh, India
'Anti-Christian Forum' claims responsibility for murders.

NEW DELHI, June 6 (Compass) -- On June 2, police in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh found the body of Pastor Isaac Raju, missing since May 24.

According to Sam Paul, national secretary of the All India Christian Council, the body was found wrapped in a jute bag that was dumped behind bushes in the Golconda area, just outside the state capital, Hyderabad.

Raju, who led an independent church on the outskirts of the city, is survived by his wife and 18-year-old son. His 15-year-old daughter died in a road accident in April.

This is the second case of mysterious disappearance and death of a Christian minister in Andhra Pradesh in recent weeks. On May 21, the body of K. Daniel, a preacher from Kummarvadi, also on the outskirts of Hyderabad, was found bearing marks suggestive of an acid attack.

"We don't know what's happening, but we are scared," Paul told Compass. "Someone called and told the police that [Raju's] body was lying there. At first the police could not find the body. Then another call came, giving precise directions, and the body was found.

"The same thing happened in Daniel’s case. They called to tell where the body was. It's a very planned way of terrorizing the Christian community," he added.

"The body was so badly decomposed that it could not be recognized. The police identified him from his belt and clothes."

A post mortem will be carried out to determine the cause of death, but Paul believes the murder was clearly "a religious crime."

According to sources, a man named Vinod called to see Raju a week before his disappearance and asked if he was available as a wedding celebrant. Raju's father answered yes. A week later, on May 24, Raju told his wife that Vinod had phoned and that he was going to meet him. When Raju failed to come home, the family reported him missing.

Following his disappearance, police launched a massive manhunt. The situation was particularly worrying, as K. Daniel had also been approached regarding a wedding ceremony before his disappearance, according to an Associated Press (AP) report on June 5.

The AP report also said police questioned at least 150 members of Hindu nationalist groups after an anonymous letter was sent to a local newspaper, claiming the murders were carried out by an organization called the "Anti-Christian Forum."

Paul confirmed to Compass that a state newspaper published a copy of the letter on May 31.

"The release said that [the Anti-Christian Forum] was responsible for Daniel's death and that they would repeat such killings. We didn't take it seriously at the time, thinking it was a ploy, but the police are now investigating who is behind this organization," said Paul.

Following the recovery of Raju's body, the state government formed a Special Investigation Team to find those responsible for the murders. The home minister has also offered protection to Christian missionaries living in the state.

"Pastors of larger churches are not scared, but others, those who live and work alone on the outskirts of the city, are really scared. There are at least 200 to 300 of them," Paul said.

There are approximately 1,500 churches in Hyderabad city, and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y. Rajshekhar Reddy, "claims to be a Christian," according to Paul.

At press time, the Christian community in Hyderabad was planning a peace march. Christian leaders also planned to meet with Reddy to discuss security concerns.

Meanwhile, a notice in The Hindu on June 6 offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers of Daniel and Raju.

(Courtesy: Compass Direct)

Church Attacked Again in Manipur, India

NEW DELHI, June 6 (Compass) -- The Believer's Church in Lamding, Thoubal district, Manipur state, suffered another attack on May 29.

Members of the church submitted a memorandum to Manipur Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh on May 30 in protest.

Copies were also sent to the director general of police in Manipur; the deputy inspector general and the superintendent of police (S.P.) in Thoubal district.

The memo requested that Singh provide security for the church, and urged the return of a police security guard.

"Lamding Believer's Church and other victims of minority faiths approach your high office once again to seek protection from anti-people elements," the memo said. "In spite of repeated demands prompted by series of attacks and threats to the minority people, security measures are yet to be taken in this regard."

Unidentified gunmen opened fire on the church late on the night of May 29. One person was injured when he fell into a ditch in panic after hearing the gunshots. However, 30 church workers and missionaries who were on the grounds at the time of the attack remained unharmed.

The attack is the fourth on the Believer's Church. The first attack occurred on November 23, 2004, when a crowd of Hindus demolished the church while construction was underway.

A second attack took place on March 8, when about 20 people attacked the church and dismantled its boundary wall. The church was attacked again on April 19. (See Compass Direct, "Church Burned, Christians Attacked in Manipur, India," April 25, 2005.)

In the most recent attack, a number of Christians were gathered at the church when a Maruti Gypsy jeep drove slowly up to the premises at around 11 p.m. "When they turned on their torch lights to see who was in the vehicle, the people in the jeep opened fire," the Rev. S. Prim Vaiphei, pastor of the Believer's Church, told Compass.

"They fired as many as 40 rounds in the air and around the church, due to which there was panic and chaos in the church area. As a result, one of our workers, Mr. Jangkhogin Chongloi, fell into a ditch and received minor injuries," Vaiphei added.

Earlier that day, a Hindu villager who sympathized with Christians had warned Vaiphei by telephone that villagers were planning an attack on the church that night.

"I immediately called the superintendent of police and informed him about the warning," said Vaiphei. "One policeman, seemingly sent by the S.P., came in civil clothes at around 7 p.m. to view the situation around the church then left.

"Our workers and missionaries were afraid and could not sleep," Vaiphei explained. "In fact, they were watching over the church; which is why, as soon as they saw the jeep coming towards the church, they got suspicious and focused their torch lights on it."

Vaiphei said the Christians immediately reported the incident to the police, but police did not visit the church until 7 the following morning. When the church members went to the police station on the afternoon of May 30, the police refused to register a complaint.

"However, the office of the S.P. accepted their complaint the same afternoon," Vaiphei added.

The situation at Lamding has been tense since the previous attack on April 19. A "Committee Against the Construction of the Church at Lamding" (CACCL), formed by local villagers, has issued continual threats against the church members.

"On April 21, Mr. Nityai Meitei, convenor of the CACCL, told a local newspaper, the Sangai Express, that the Believer's Church should vacate the land or they would have to face the consequences," Vaiphei told Compass.

Compass also spoke to Sub-Inspector N. Manikant of the Thoubal Police Station, who claimed the attack was unplanned.

"The attackers were seemingly from a local extremist group called the 'Valley' because they were carrying sophisticated arms," Manikant said. "They opened fire only when two church missionaries focused their torch lights on them."

Manikant admitted there were no security personnel deployed near the church that night, despite the warning of a possible attack and a court injunction order, issued on February 3, directing local authorities to provide a security guard for the church.

Manikant denied the existence of the court injunction, VIDE No. 117 of 2004, claiming that the S.P. had voluntarily provided a "mobile team of policemen" to protect the church against any attack.

However, when Compass phoned Nikhit Kumar Ujwal, the S.P. of Thoubal district, he declined to comment.

Christians Believe India Still Deserves 'CPC' Status

Despite change in government, attacks on religious minorities continue.
Compass Feature

NEW DELHI, June 2 (Compass) -- The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in a report issued in May asked that India be removed from the list of "Countries of Particular Concern" (or CPCs), citing progress in religious freedom.

India was designated a CPC in 2004, due to a series of violent actions against Muslims and Christians that took place under the rule of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, elected in 1998.

The USCIRF felt the BJP government had not adequately addressed the killing of up to 2,000 Muslims in Gujarat state riots in 2002, nor had it addressed a growing number of violent attacks on the Christian minority in many states.

Created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the USCIRF monitors freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief in countries outside the United States, and gives independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress.

While the USCIRF cannot implement sanctions, it can recommend the designation of a country as a CPC on the basis of systematic, ongoing and serious violations of religious freedom. The designation is then made by the U.S. State Department and followed by U.S. diplomatic and economic actions.

This year, the USCIRF said it would no longer recommend that India be designated as a CPC due to "significant developments affecting freedom of belief" over the past year.

One of the developments cited by the USCIRF was the defeat of the BJP party in last year's parliamentary elections. The USCIRF pointed out that the BJP was closely associated with a group of Hindu extremist organizations that operated freely under BJP rule.

However, Christian leaders have voiced concern and surprise at the removal of India from the list of CPCs. They say a climate of strong religious hostility is still evident despite the election of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), led by the Indian National Congress Party, in May 2004.

Speaking to Compass, Dr. John Dayal, a prominent Christian and a member of the National Integration Council of the Government of India, emphasized that the root cause of continuing religious violence was the fundamentalist ideology spread by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu extremist organization that had close ties with the BJP.

"The RSS is ... spreading hate among the tribals and buying its way into the bureaucracy and judiciary," Dayal said.

"The international community must fully and publicly investigate the RSS and all its sub-organizations, their funding, ideology and spread among the Indian diaspora in Asia-Pacific, Europe, the U.K., Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean," he added.

Dayal also pointed to numerous incidents of anti-Christian violence during the past 12 months.

The BJP and its political allies still control state governments in Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Incidents of violence against Christians have reportedly increased in these states over the past year. Sporadic violence has also occurred in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala, states ruled by the Congress Party.

For example, Hindu extremists violently attacked Bible students of the Emmanuel Mission in Kota district, Rajasthan, on February 19. State support of the attackers was clearly visible. (See Compass Direct, "Indian Hindus Attack Christian Students in Rajasthan," February 22, 2005.)

Extremists also assaulted several other Christians in the state, apparently with an agenda to push forward the enactment of anti-conversion laws in Rajasthan. (See Compass Direct, "Hindu Extremists in India Assault Rajasthan Christians," March 18, 2005.)

Numerous other incidents over the past year prompted a delegation of Christian leaders to present an unofficial white paper to the government in March 2005. The paper listed over 200 incidents in the first quarter of this year in which Christians had faced severe harassment or physical attacks.

In the 2005 "Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom," the USCIRF stated that the new Congress-led government had "pledged to reject any kind of religious intolerance and return the country to its pluralistic traditions; proposed a law to halt and criminalize inter-religious violence; and taken immediate steps to remove the religiously intolerant portions of school textbooks issued by the BJP government."

However, the five states most susceptible to religious violence are still ruled by the BJP and its allies. Under terms of the Indian Constitution, the central government can do little to ensure the protection of religious minorities in those states.

Following their election to power, the UPA promised to enact a federal law against religious violence. However, a year after the election, no such law exists.

The USCIRF also said the Supreme Court had taken "significant steps designed to bring to justice those responsible for the anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat in 2002."

The Supreme Court has indeed reopened hundreds of cases connected with the Gujarat riots, which had been withdrawn by the Gujarat state administration.

However, the Gujarat state government, led by Narendra Modi -- a renowned Hindu fundamentalist -- has caused numerous delays in the judicial process, both for the Gujarat riot trials and the Best Bakery case in which 14 Muslims were killed in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

"The current central government has taken several healthy steps to reassure minorities," Dayal admits. “But as long as the killers of the Gujarat massacres remain free, and as long as Modi rules in Gujarat ... India cannot claim to have cleansed itself of the blood of innocent minority communities."

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A Litany of Violence

Attacks or acts of discrimination against Christians*, reported by Compass Direct during the first half of 2005. (*Listed by dates of occurrence when possible.)

* January 19
Arsonists attacked and destroyed a Catholic school in the northeast state of Assam, accusing school staff of attempting to convert Hindu children. "The [Assam Tribune] newspaper exaggerated the incident by alleging that a mob of about 10,000 people attacked the school, whereas the mob was only 70 people strong," Vinay Masih of the Evangelical Fellowship of India told Compass. ("Arsonists Attack Christian School in Guwahati," January 26, 2005)

* February 11
Pastor Narayan, a 25-year-old Christian evangelist, was brutally murdered in Karnataka state. Christians claimed religious fundamentalists were behind the attack. ("Indian Evangelist’s Battered Body Found in Karnataka," February 22, 2005)

* February 14
Hindu cleric Sunil Ji Maharaj threatened 40 Catholic families in the village of Rajura, Maharashtra, insisting that the tribal Christians turn their church into a Hindu temple or face serious consequences. He also threatened the Christians with social ostracism or death if they did not "reconvert" to Hinduism. ("Hindu Cleric Bullies Catholic Villagers in Maharashtra," February 14, 2005.)

* February 19
Members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bajrang Dal beat and robbed 280 Christian students as they were traveling to a graduation ceremony for the Emmanuel Mission in Kota, Rajasthan. Afterward, local police rounded up the students, kept them in custody until the following evening and forced them to return home. None of the attackers were arrested. ("Hindus Attack Christian Students in Rajasthan," February 22, 2005).

* February 23
Members of a radical Hindu group broke up a Christian prayer meeting in a small Indian village in Seoni district, Madhya Pradesh, and left several Christians badly injured. Policemen assigned to guard the believers failed to protect them. Local Hindus have since pressured the Christians to drop their complaint, threatening them with "death and burning down of their houses." ("Hindus Attack Church While Police Take ‘Lunch Break,'" March 14, 2005.)

* March 11
A delegation of India’s top Christian leaders presented an unofficial “white paper” to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, listing over 200 violent incidents against Christians occurring in the first 10 weeks of 2005. ("Hindus Attack Church While Police Take ‘Lunch Break,'" March 14, 2005)

* March 14
Kiran Kumar, an evangelist arrested on charges of attempting to convert Hindus in Orissa state, appealed his case to the Orissa High Court, accusing the police of negligence and torture. A group of Hindu extremists assaulted Kumar on February 27, tied him up and threatened to throw him into Chilika Lake. Police later arrived on the scene and arrested Kumar and beat him with bamboo rods. ("Evangelist’s Arrest Exposes Police Brutality," March 15, 2005.)

* March 18
Sources reported several attacks on Christians in Rajasthan. Members of the Bajrang Dal, a youth wing of the BJP, attacked eight members of the Friends Missionary Prayer Band on March 13 and falsely accused Pastor Arthur Joel, a Christian orphanage director, of child abuse in early March. Meanwhile in late February, Pastor Vaalu and his eight-month-pregnant wife were brutally assaulted on a public bus in Rajasthan. ("Hindu Extremists Assault Rajasthan Christians," March 18, 2005.)

* March 28
The government of Chhattisgarh announced plans to strengthen existing anti-conversion laws, following reports that the numbers of Christian converts in the state is increasing. Under existing provisions, those who convert without official approval may be imprisoned for up to two years and fined up to 10,000 rupees ($220). However, pending regulations call for imprisonment for up to four years and fines of 100,000 rupees ($2,175). ("Chhattisgarh State to Strengthen Anti-Conversion Law," March 28, 2005)

* March 30
Christian businessman Vidya Sagaran of Kerala state was arrested and charged with attempted forced conversion under the Indian Penal Code. Defense attorney Ranjit George said the charges were the result of a personal dispute between Sagaran and his neighbor. Meanwhile, Hindu activists in Kerala objected to the work of Christian relief groups in tsunami-torn coastal areas, accusing two Catholic priests of inducing tsunami victims to convert to Christianity by offering aid. ("Christian Businessman Charged With Conversion," April 14, 2005.)

* April 1
Hindu and Muslim villagers burned down a prayer hall and attacked three church members in Panamvilla village, Kerala. The attack came after 26 people were baptized in a discreet early morning ceremony. Two days later when Paul Ciniraj Mohammed, pastor of the church, spoke to some of the villagers about the assault, he and his assistant were also beaten severely. ("Villagers Beat Christians, Burn Down Prayer Hall," April 15, 2005.)

* April 2
The Hindu Jagran Manch held a "reconversion" ceremony in Dhamtari district, Chhattisgarh, in which they claimed 700 Christians had reconverted to Hinduism. During the reconversion ceremony, former cabinet minister Dilip Singh Judeo threatened Christian workers, saying, "If Christian missionaries don’t stop converting people, we will take up arms." ("Hindu Activists ‘Reconvert’ Christians," April 7, 2005.)

* April 11
Father Mathew, a priest in the east-Indian state of Bihar, was stabbed to death when he refused to pay extortion money to an ex-prisoner he had been counseling. "Gyan Das demanded 100,000 rupees ($2,325) from Father Mathew. ... There was a scuffle in which the father was stabbed four times in the neck and the chest," said Allen R. Johannes, press secretary for the Archdiocese of Patna. ("Catholic Priest Stabbed in Bihar," April 14, 2005.)

* April 19
A mob of 200 Hindus overpowered a police patrol and set fire to the Believer's Church in Thoubal district, Manipur. Following a similar attack in November 2004, authorities had ordered police protection for the church during reconstruction. Villagers have now asked church members to abandon the premises or "face the consequences." ("Church Burned, Christians Attacked in Manipur," April 25.)

* May 1
A crowd of nearly 500 Hindu villagers attacked a house church in Mangalwarapete village, Karnataka state. Assailants molested some of the women among the 60 people present at the Sunday service and burned Bibles and other Christian literature. The mob beat Pastor Paulraj Raju of King Jesus Church until he bled profusely. The attackers identified themselves as members of the Bajrang Dal and the BJP. ("Hindu Extremists Attack Church, Burn Bibles," May 4, 2005.)

* May 7
A Christian couple in Gujarat was attacked by Hindu extremists; Jamubhai Choudhary was slashed with an ax, while his wife Jathriben suffered a bone fracture. Jathriben was discharged from hospital on May 16, but her husband remains in the hospital. ("Christians Suffer Attacks in Southern India," May 20, 2005)

* May 12
RSS members attacked and beat eight students from the Beersheba Bible College at Maraman, Pathanamthitta. The students were making their way to a funeral when about 15 motor-cycle-mounted RSS members assaulted them with sharp weapons. Three of the students required hospitalization. ("Hindu Extremists Attack Bible College Students," May 16, 2005.)

* May 15
Hindu extremists physically attacked 11 Christian families from Jamanya village in Jalgaon district, Maharashtra. Village officials had summoned the families to a community court and asked them to renounce their faith. When the families refused, the men were beaten with heavy sticks and chased from the village. On the following day their wives and children were also assaulted. ("Christian Families Attacked in Maharasthra, India," May 20, 2005.)

* May 18
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) in Orissa threatened to launch a campaign for the dismissal of Christian government officers in response to an order granting equal rights to tribal Christians. Before the order was passed, Christian members of Scheduled Tribes were denied access to education and employment quotas. "It seems to me that people were taking advantage of the [Christian] Santhals by depriving them of these privileges, and that is why people are now raising their voices," said Levinus Kindo, a Christian revenue officer who ordered the change in March before his retirement. ("World Hindu Council Opposes Rights for Tribal Christians," May 18, 2005.)

* May 20
Unknown assailants poured acid over the body of the Rev. K. Daniel in Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh, resulting in his death. The Christian community in the state was shaken by the attack. Law enforcement officials deny the attack was religiously motivated. However Sam Paul of the All India Christian Council told Compass that Daniel had been "threatened many times by the local Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh." (“Christians Suffer Attacks in Southern India,” May 20, 2005.)

(COURTESY: COMPASS DIRECT)

Catholic priest arrested for pedophilia in a Hindu fundamentalist plot

Amravati (AsiaNews) - The arrest of a Catholic priest for alleged child molestation is being used by Hindu fundamentalist to tarnish the reputation of the Catholic Church. Whilst this is happening the central government remains indifferent.

The alleged incident is said to have occurred in Amravati, Maharashtra state, but the local Bishop has defended the priest, saying that the accusations are false. Instead, he has charged Hindu extremists with setting up the Catholic clergyman in an attempt to stop Tribals (Adivasi) from getting a Catholic education.

In talking about the case of Fr Gervas Fernandes, Mgr Edwin Colaco, Bishop of Amravati, described to AsiaNews what happened.

On May 20, Father Fernandes was arrested after the parents of an 11-year-old boy accused the priest of sexually molesting their son - the boy had been living in a hostel managed by the Church inside the compound of the local Cathedral.

The previous day Father Fernandes was preparing to go to his new mission station when he asked the boy to accompany him. Hence, he asked him to change from his home clothes into something more appropriate for travelling outside the village.

The boy's father told the police that the priest then called his son to his room and coerced the boy into giving him a body massage.

Following standard procedure in such cases, the police sent the priest and the boy for medical examinations. But the results have not been released yet. Through it all, Father Fernandes maintains his innocence.

For Bishop Colaco, the arrest is based on false accusations instigated by Hindu fundamentalists to discredit the educational and development activities of the Church among local Tribals.

"The boy's family later tried to retract the complaint but was forced to retain it under pressure from Hindu radicals, who would like to exploit the situation." Bishop Colaco said. "The family came to me later and said they regretted their complaint, which they did in a fit of rage," he added.

On May 21, about 100 young militants from the Bharatiya Janata Party (a party linked to Hindu fundamentalists) demonstrated in front of the Bishop's House, demanding action against a priest accused of pedophilia.

On May 22, Father Fernandes was released on bail, but chose to stay from the Cathedral to avoid violent actions by extremists. He will be tried under India's Penal Code for unnatural offences that carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Bishop Colaco is concerned with the situation of the local Church and Christian Tribals, especially since Father Fernandes's case is not an isolated one. "These false allegations of child molestation are a tragedy. The clergy and nuns in the diocese of Amravati give their lives for these poor illiterate people," he said.

As far he is concerned, Hindu fundamentalists want to stop young Tribals from receiving an education in Church-run colleges even if it is against the interests of the people. "The living conditions of these children are pitiful. Were it not for the vocations and vision of our priests, they would grow up uneducated, malnourished and without dignity," he stressed.

What is worse, Father Fernandes's case is being used by Hindu fundamentalists to mount a meticulous campaign against the Catholic presence in the region by staging demonstrations, making threats and thanks to media complicity.

A local BJP worker said that "[e]veryone must know what happened. We are not going to leave this issue so easily." But although the accused priest is Indian, the he said his people would not allow "firangi padri" (foreign priests) to destroy "our culture."

According to Bishop Colaco, the local press has covered the case superficially and irresponsibly, one paper going as far as carrying a headline that read: "Bishop of Amravati arrested for paedophilia." The report claimed that police had arrested a "42-year-old bishop" in "connection with a pedophilia allegation."

The situation is made worse by the indifference of local and central authorities. The Bishop wrote to Maharashtra's Home Minister and Chief Minister to complain about the defamatory press coverage of the case and about the arrest itself which was done without any evidence and in the absence of an attorney.

John Dayal, secretary general of the All India Catholic Union, said that several times he complained to the Congress Party about the violence perpetrated by Hindu fundamentalists. "I would like to hope the central government will wake up. This is causing great distress in predominantly Tribal areas. Such episodes are the seed of a great tragedy," he warned.

In the past, the diocese of Amravati was the scene of other violent incidents instigated by Hindu fundamentalists. Back in February, they threatened 250 Catholics in one village, demanding they stop practicing their faith and organising 'ceremonies of conversion back to Hinduism".

http://asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=3430

Christian Mission in India Accused of Forced Conversions

NEW DELHI, May 31 (Compass) -- Police are currently investigating seven staff members of a Christian mission, the Atmik Vikas Trust (AVT), in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh. A group of disgruntled trainees have accused the staff of "running a gang to convert poor Hindus" by promising them employment.

The complainants in the case lost their jobs in November 2004.

The former employees claim they each gave the mission 20,000 rupees ($465) when they signed up for a training program. They also allege that the Christians had "converted" them under the guise of finding them jobs.

Following the termination of their employment with a Christian company, the plaintiffs allege, they were beaten and threatened with death when they went to the mission and asked that their money be returned.

The seven accused are Pastor Yashwant Paul and his wife Monica of the Evangelical Church of God (ECOG); Squadron Leader (retired) M.M. Philip and ex-civil servant Mr. Lalchhuangliana, both AVT trustees; Dr. Raju Abraham, director of Kachawa Christian Hospital in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh; Lieutenant Colonel Arun Kumar (retired) and Mr. Gurpreet Singh.

AVT is a registered trust formed for the purpose of providing religious instruction and social development.

Pastor Paul denies the charges. "My wife and I are involved in running a church, and we have not accepted any amount from anyone. Nor have we lured anyone into Christianity," he told Compass.

Paul and his wife were asked to vacate their rented house after two national dailies, the Amar Ujala and the Dainik Jagran, carried stories about the allegations against them.

Squadron Leader Philip told Compass, "This is simply an _expression of frustration by our ex-employees.

"We provide Biblical teachings and focus on the personal transformation of a trainee, but some come in with false expectations. They think they will get a job and money, and when such expectations are not met, they think they have been wronged.

"These employees were laid off because we could not see any transformation in their lives," he explained. "But I suspect that some Hindu fundamentalist organization is using the situation to harass us."

The seven Hindu plaintiffs submitted affidavits to the Judicial Magistrate of Hapur Taluka in Ghaziabad district of Uttar Pradesh on January 31.

Based on the affidavits, the court ordered local police to investigate the AVT mission under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code. The police then registered a complaint against the accused for criminal breach of trust, voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation.

If convicted, the AVT defendants could face imprisonment of up to seven years, a fine or both.

The seven plaintiffs have identified themselves in the affidavits as poor and unemployed Hindus who were lured into Christianity.

"The AVT and the ECOG is a gang which is involved in an illegal work of luring poor and unemployed people like us into Christianity by promising good, permanent jobs," the affidavits stated. "All the [accused] are Indians, but in reality, they are agents of foreign countries, and are openly working towards making India a slave to foreigners."

The affidavits further claimed that AVT had demanded a refundable security deposit of 20,000 rupees from each of the complainants, in return for arranging permanent jobs with a salary of 10,000 rupees per month.

"I borrowed the amount and gave it to them on April 5, 2002, in the office of the ECOG. There were several witnesses with me," said Ramesh Chandra, one of the plaintiffs.

"On August 12, 2002, I, along with 14 others, was sent to the city of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, and we were trained in Christianity until September 2. We were told that we would be given jobs in factories belonging to Christians, and therefore we needed the Christian training."

Chandra complained that when he and others came back from the training, they were given laborers' work at a salary of 2,000 rupees per month.

"They also asked us to be baptized, saying we would not get jobs otherwise," Chandra alleged.

"I and others were laid off by the AVT on November 28, 2004. But our security deposit was not returned to us. And when we went to the AVT office on January 24, 2005, to ask for the money, the accused and their goons beat us and threatened us with false accusation and death," he said.

When Compass spoke with Paul, he said the village chief and other villagers had signed a statement saying that the plaintiffs never came to the village to demand money and that no beatings had taken place. Paul also said the mission had not asked for security deposits from participants in the program.

The case has not yet gone to court.

Uttar Pradesh has one of the smallest populations of Christians in India, with only 212,000 Christians in a total population of 166 million, according to 2001 census figures.

Eight Protestant leaders arrested in Riyadh

Riyadh (AsiaNews) - Vijay Kumar, a 45-year-old Indian national from the state of Tamil Nadu, and seven other Protestant leaders were arrested by the Muttawa, Saudi Arabia's religious police.
Relatives and friends in Riyadh have had no news about the fate of their loved ones, nor do they know where they are detained.
AsiaNews sources in the country said that Mr Kumar was taken in by police on May 28. His arrest came in the wake of that of another Indian, Samkutty Varghese, an Evangelical Christian who had entered the country on January 26 on a tourist visa.
The Muttawa detained Mr Varghese, who was waiting for his visa to be extended, on March 9. They found him in possession of a Hindi Bible and some phone numbers, which they used to carry out other arrests.
On May 28, the religious police raided a private prayer gathering of Protestant groups in the Batha area of the Saudi capital.
Later that day, at 8 pm, the police arrived at Mr Kumar's home. They interrogated him and his wife Christy Vijay Kumar till 3 am and then took away all religious material found in the residence, the family computers and Mr Kumar himself.
All those arrested belong to Assembly of God Evangelical groups.
Ms Kumar works as a catechist and normally teaches 40 Christian children from India and Muscat in her home.
Vijay Kumar has been in Saudi Arabia since 1994 working for Al Salam Aircraft. His home has been a gathering place for Christians since 2002.
His Saudi colleagues consider him a good person and are worried for his fate. And his employer has asked the police for information about his disappearance, thus far with little success.
In Saudi Arabia, freedom of expression is banned for all religions but Islam. Every public expression of other faiths (holding a Bible, wearing a cross or a rosary, praying) are outlawed.
The religious police, which has a reputation for being uncompromising and violent, remorselessly enforces the ban.
In the last few years, international pressures have forced the Saudi royal family to relent a bit and allow non Muslim to practice their religion at least in the privacy of the home. None the less, the Muttawa continues to arrest, imprison and torture people who practice another faith. For instance, on April 23, they arrested 40 Pakistani Christians who were worshiping at home.
Saudi Arabia’s economy heavily depends on foreigners, but although they are allowed to work, they are not allowed to profess their faith.
Out of a population of some 21.6 million people, foreigners are around 8 million.
Muslims represent 97.3 per cent of the total, whilst Christians constitute 3.7 per cent, almost all from India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Egypt. Catholics number some 900,000.
In its 2004 report, the US Commission on religious freedom in the world said the Saudi kingdom was a country of particular concern.

Courtesy: Asia News

More Trishul Diksha programmes planned in Orissa

Encouraged by Naveen Patnaik administration's u-turn on the issue, the VHP-Bajrang Dal combine is now reportedly planning more 'Trishul Diksha' programmes in the state.

The two Sangh Parivar members launched their programme at the coastal town of Nimapara in Puri district last week with distribution of 'Trishuls' to nearly 400 youths from the state for protection of the Hindu religion.

They are contemplating to begin their second round of the programme in the Assembly constituencies of prominent state Congress leaders. If Sangh Parivar sources are to be believed, a programme will be organised at Anandapur in tribal-dominated Keonjhar district in the last week of June when nearly a thousand youths from the area will be presented with Trishuls. Anandapur is the constituency of PCC president Jayadev Jena.

The Congress-led Opposition in the state has been strongly protesting the VHP Bajrang Dal's decision. "The Hindus do not need Trishul Diksha programmes to protect their religion. This type of communal activity is only aimed at disturbing and destabilishing the society", said leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly and former chief minister J B Patnaik.

The Opposition leaders are also extremely critical of the state administration's "reversal attitude" towards the programme. "The recent statement of chief minister Mr Patnaik on the issue is not only condemnable but also dangerous for the state", said Bijoy Mohapatra, president of the Orissa Gana Parishad (OGP).

Last year, the VHP had planned a Trishul Diksha programme in the state in presence of Praveen Togadia. The programme, however, was cancelled in the last moment because of the hard stand taken by the Naveen Patnaik administration.

But this time, the administration seems to have gone soft on the issue. "We have no knowledge of any law and order problem because of the VHP's programme. If there will be any law and order problem we will definitely take action", the chief minister has said.

Pastor Missing in Andhra Pradesh

HYDERABAD: Four days after a gospel preacher, K. Daniel, was found murdered on the city outskirts, a pastor, K. Isaac Raju, went missing, keeping the police on tenterhooks.

Though no link had been established between the two cases, except that both fell under the Rajendranagar division of the Cyberabad police, the All-IndiaChristina Council, expressing concern over the incidents, urged the Governmentto speed up the investigation.

Mr. Isaac Raju (45) of Prashanti Hills in Rayadurgam received a call on hislandline on Tuesday around 7.30 p.m. From Vinod asking him whether he wouldperform a marriage. He expressed his readiness, but the caller did not turn uptill 9.30 p.m. Around the same time he received another call and went out.

Incidentally, none of the pastor's family members saw him going out. His wife,K. Satyaveni, grew suspicious as he did not return till Wednesday and lodged acomplaint with the Rayadurgam police.

According to the pastor's younger sister, Esther Rani, two youngsters came totheir house on May 13 and one of them introduced himself as Vinod. As the pastor was away, Vinod asked her if Isaac Raju would perform marriages. After waiting for sometime, they left saying they would call up the pastor.

"What baffles us is the lack of information from Vinod who has taken the pastorout. And the recent killing of Daniel adds to our apprehension," the AICCSecretary (Public Affairs), Sam Paul, said.

He made it clear that Raju had neither any enemy nor was involved in anycontroversy. As the pastor was not in the habit of using a mobile, no leadscould be stumbled upon. Even as the Rayadurgam police were racking their brains over the mysterious disappearance, the Shamshabad police investigating into Daniel's killing were completely at sea.

While fears were expressed over the possible involvement of some fundamentalist organisations, the police were not ready to buy the theory. The Shamshabad and Asifnagar police (where the victim's house is located) made inquiries over reports of Daniel receiving threats from some persons. But, they did not get any clue. Daniel's parents, native of an interior village near Sircilla of Karimnagar, told the police that their son rarely met them after getting married four years ago.

The only hope for the investigating officials was the victim's mobile phone thatwas taken away by the killers. But, that too was found switched off.

The AICC representatives submitted memoranda in the offices of the DGP and the Cyberabad Police Commissioner.

Atrocities on Christians in Southern India

NEW DELHI, May 27 (Compass) -- A Christian couple in Gujarat, India, are recovering from serious injuries received in an attack in early May. Jamubhai Choudhary was slashed with an ax, and his wife, Jathriben, suffered a bone fracture. Meanwhile, the brutal murder of the Rev. K. Daniel in Hyderabad on May 20 by pouring acid over his body has shaken the Christian community in that city in Andhra Pradesh state. Law enforcement officials deny the attacks were religiously motivated, but Christian leaders believe they are the work of Hindu extremists. "Pastor K. Daniel had been threatened many times by the local Rashtrya Swayamsevak Sangh," Sam Paul of the All India Christian Council told Compass. "Hindu fundamentalists have changed their usual way of attacking minorities ... so that their attacks can be attributed to ‘personal disputes,'" AICC’s Samson Christian added.

**********

NEW DELHI, May 27 (Compass) -- Jamubhai Choudhary and his wife, Jathriben, a Christian couple from the Valia Taluka area of the southern state of Gujarat, India, are recovering from injuries received when axe-wielding Hindu villagers assaulted them three weeks ago.

"They were attacked on the evening of May 7 while they were returning from their field," Samson Christian, an executive of the All India Christian Council (AICC), told Compass.

"Jamubhai received a deep cut on his head and fell unconscious on the spot, while his wife suffered a bone fracture in her right hand."

Meanwhile, the brutal murder of the Rev. K. Daniel by pouring acid over his body has shaken the Christian community in Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh state. Daniel, a pastor from Neralla, Karimnagar district, died on May 20, according to an AICC news release.

"All India Christian Council condemns this gruesome murder," the report stated. "The designs of religious fundamentalists could be easily seen in this incident and we condemn their acts. We demand that whoever may be the culprits, they should be punished."

Sam Paul, national secretary of the AICC; Dr. G. Samuel, president of the Andhra Pradesh state chapter of the AICC; and the organization’s secretary general, Prabhu Kumar, issued the news report on Daniel’s murder.

"Pastor K. Daniel had been threatened many times by the local Rashtrya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)," Paul told Compass on May 25. "Therefore, we highly suspect that religious fundamentalists were behind the brutal murder."

The AICC report listed other incidents of violence against Christians in the region.

"In Sirsiclla and Siddipet areas, several fundamentalists are threatening and obstructing the normal conducting of worship services on a regular basis. There are complaints with police [sic] that never have seen any action from the police.

"Similarly, almost four years back, Pastor Prabhudas of Mustabad was murdered and no one is arrested yet in that case. This shows either connivance or negligence of police with the religious fundamentalists.

"We demand a CB-CID [Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department] inquiry and culprits bought to book. We also urge the government to protect the peace-loving and peace-proclaiming pastors and evangelists from unnecessary harassment."

Responding to questions about the attack on the Choudharys, Valia Taluka Chief Constable Roop Singh Bhai told Compass that officers had arrested two local men, Arjunbhai Devabhai Bema and Khansinghbhai Devabhai Bema, for assaulting the couple. He categorically denied that the attack was religiously motivated.

"It was simply a personal dispute," he said. "Jamubhai and his wife have acknowledged this in their statement. There has never been any communal trouble in our jurisdiction."

Joseph Durairaj, area coordinator of the Friends Missionary Prayer Band, disagreed. "I met Jamubhai in the Civil Hospital, and he told me that the RSS and the Bajrang Dal were behind the attack," he said.

"Jamubhai and his wife are a simple farming couple; the police can easily make them give such a statement to shield the real culprits."

Durairaj thinks the attackers were targeting the small group of Christians who meet for worship in the Choudhary home every Sunday and planned to construct a small church building there.

"But in January this year when we took building materials to the site, some villagers strongly objected to it and threatened them," he said. "As a result, we could not begin the construction."

Only 12 of the 130 families in the village are Christian.

"Hindu fundamentalists have changed their usual way of attacking minorities in Gujarat after the riots of 2002, when the state was identified as the most communal [religiously divided] in India," Samson Christian said. "Now they target Christians using local people, so that their attacks can be attributed to 'personal disputes.'"

Christian pointed to the brutal beating of Sunil Benjamin Patel, a Christian teacher at a government school in Petia village, Valia Taluka, on March 14.

"On March 6, a few days before the attack, about 10,000 people from different Hindu organizations had gathered under the banner of Dharma Raksha Samiti [association for the protection of religion] in the same village," Christian said. "The leaders of this gathering spoke out against Christian missionaries."

Police have arrested a member of a Hindu fundamentalist organization in connection with the assault.

Boarding school to teach new Hindu fundamentalists in Gujarat

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has opened a boarding school to teach the organisation's slogans and Hindu devotional practices to kids, with the result that many young Tribals, including young Christians, are returning to Hinduism.

Samyala (AsiaNews/Agencies) – One of the most hard-line Hindu fundamentalist groups, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council), has built a Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) boarding school in Padra in the state of Gujarat to educate Tribal children they deem 'lost Hindus' about Hinduism.

The first group of pupils in the new institution is made of 20 boys from refugee camps in Tripura, a state bordering Bangladesh.

The boys are Mizoram Riyang Tribals and were sent to the school by the VHP’s sister organisation, the Uttar Purwanchal Jan Jati Samity.

Parents were induced to send them to this school with promises of a good education for their children. Currently though, this education amounts to teaching Hindu prayers and VHP slogans whilst more traditional lessons are dispensed in Gujarati, Hindi and English in high schools in the towns of Padra and Vadodara.

Another group of 20 pupils are expected at the school for this June

For years, Hindu fundamentalist movements have been accusing Christians of proselytising, arguing that the latter exploit Tribals' poverty to draw them to Christianity.

Last week, as he was inaugurating the boarding school, the Shri Guruji Purwanachal Chhatralaya Ashok Singhal - VHP executive president - said: "Hindus in north - eastern India are under the great threat of Christian terrorism and Islamic infiltration from Bangladesh. We need the right force to defend our faith from these attacks and this boarding school is part of our efforts in that direction".

The VHP changed the names of some of these Tribals, ostensibly "to make pronouncing them easier".

"My parents are farmers in a village in Tripura," said Lalrinthangba (now called Lalji) who is attending third grade at the Geb School in Vadodara, "and one day a certain Dr Dhananjay got in touch with them and offered them to educate me. Everything is going well here".

Lalamarpe, who is the eldest of the kids, was brought here when organisers were having communication problems with the pupils. Now called Naresh, he was Christian, went to church and attended the Mary John School in Aizwal.

"Dr Dhananjay told my parents that Praveen Togadia (the VHP's secretary general) wanted young people from the community to take part in a social project," he said. "I didn't want to but my parents decided it was best for me and for my education. Now we are all Hindus except one brother who is still Christian".

"[Now,]I want to become a Member of Parliament and be an activist like Dr Dhananjay. I'll talk to my people and teach them Hindi and Hindu values."

Arvind Brahbhatt, VHP organisational chief for Gujarat and Rajasthan, said: "We are helping the lost Hindus assimilate the Bharat bhakti [Bharat devotional practices] and the Hindu sanskar (Hindu religious terminology)."

"[And] they'll do the same with their own people once they go home," he added, also stating that another 35 children from Tripura and Assam are being educated in a similar boarding school in Banswada, Rajasthan.

Four people arrested for handing out Bibles

Bhubaneshwar (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Police in the north-eastern Indian state of Orissa arrested four people last May 13 for handing out copies of the Bible to the residents of Rajnagar Block.
The police action came in the wake of rising religious tensions after the alleged conversion of 300 Hindu families to Christianity in Rajnagar.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the armed wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party, a Hindu nationalist party that runs the local state government, had threatened protest action if the police failed to act against "those responsible for violating the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act."
According to Sistikantha Kanungo, officer in charge of the Rajnagar police station, "the area is already tense, and open distribution of the Bible at such a time could add fuel to the fire. That is why we arrested the four young men and detained them".
The arrested are Ashok Namalpuri (28) from Chalakamba (Nayagarh district), Gorachand Pal (22) from Gaeba (Gajapati district), Siddheswar Nayak (29) and Bimal Wilson (22) from Koraput.
They had come to Rajnagar in January and were immediately accused of proselytising and trying to influence school children because they taught at two primary schools for free over the last five months.
Hemant Sharma, Kendrapara's district collector, has ordered an inquiry into the alleged conversion of 300 Hindu families. The local superintendent of police said that a report will be released within a week.
Orissa Freedom of Religion Act requires all would-be converts to inform the district authorities of their decision and obliges them to obtain the latter's authorisation.

Christian families attacked by Fundamentalists in Maharashtra

By Vijayesh Lal

Jamanya Village: 16th May 2005: Around 11 Christian families from the Jamanya Village, Yawal Tehsil, District Jalgaon were beaten up by fundamentalists for refusing to give up their faith. Their women and children were abused and beaten up as well. Attempt was made to outrage the modesty of Christian women as the fundamentalists tried to disrobe them and to harm their private parts. At the time of the report the situation remains tense in the area. The police are investigating the matter.

15th May 2005: Jamanya’s 11 Christian families were summoned to the Panchayat (Community Court) by the Sarpanch (head) and the Patil (a local designation, equivalent to the head). The 11 families were told to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ for the common good of the village. They were accused of bringing bad luck to the village by their embracing of the Christian faith. Attempts were made to persuade them and they were threatened till late in the afternoon. The Panchayat and its leaders had joined hands with Panchayat leaders of other villages as well to intimidate the Christians.

At about 3:30 pm the Christians saw a mob coming towards their homes and fled to the mountains which surround the area. As they were running away, some were caught and beaten up mercilessly by heavy sticks and logs till they managed to escape. They were chased by the mob till the evening.

When the Christian men came down to their homes after it was dark, they found groups outside each home, armed with weapons to kill them. They again fled and this time to different villages, seeking shelter wherever they could find it.

16th May 2005: The mob by now agitated and angry because of the escape of the Christian men, targeted their women and children. They too were beaten up mercilessly. Some children passed out because of the beatings. The mob attempted to disrobe the women and some even attempted rape according to reports received. One lady Karoty Bai, was particularly targeted by the mob as they beat her and tried to harm her private parts using a stick.

The Christian men meanwhile escaped to nearby villages and managed to contact other Christians in the area who then took them to the Yawal district police station, where they filed a complaint against the Panchayat leaders. Not to be outdone the Panchayat leaders too had filed a case against the Christians in the same police station on false grounds of conversion and the disruption of peace in the village.

We spoke to the police inspector who is looking into the case and he has confirmed the complaints received, but has not filed it as a First Information Report (FIR). The FIR is needed to commence investigations in a case.

The police have also called all the victims and the complainants to the police station in order to record their testimonies for the purpose of investigation.

The situation in the village is tense and the police have appointed a small force in the village to maintain law and order.

This is not the first time that the Christians had to face the consequences of choosing Christianity. A local Christian told Compass that the agitation against the Christians was initiated 3 years ago by the Sarpanch and the Patil. In 2003 the Christian families had to pay a fine of 11,000 Rupees (around 250 US Dollars) to the Panchayat for adopting Christianity. This was followed by a period of peace till the latest incident happened.

Jamanya is a place inhabited by tribals and is not without the influence of the BJP and its allies which are fundamentalists in ideology. The VHP and the Bajrang Dal have strong presence in the Jalgaon district where this has happened. The Sarpanch, Sattar Singh, who initiated this move against the small Christian community is known to have ties with the local BJP.

Pastor and Associate attacked in Karnataka

May 1st 2005: Dozens of Hindutva fundamentalists attacked the Assembly of God congregation at Shrirangapattana Taluka near Mysore. The pastor of the congregation and his associate, were injured in this attack.

The attack happened right after the Sunday worship service at the AG Church. At the time of the attack there were at least 60 people in the Church. Since there is no building for the Church the congregation meets at a rented house. Suddenly dozens of people, identified by the pastor as activists of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal, attacked the congregation.

The fundamentalists, led by a BJP general secretary, first targeted the associate pastor Mr. Kumar and then the pastor of the congregation, Mr. Samuel. The attackers dragged them both outside the hall, where the Church was meeting and beat them for more than an hour. The congregation too was threatened by the members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal.

After the fundamentalists had finished beating the two men, they dragged them to the local police station and falsely accused them of converting people. The police instead of protecting them, registered a complaint against them, while no complain was registered against the attackers.

The police also reportedly demanded that the pastor’s would no longer hold any Christian meetings in that house in Shrirangapattana. It is alleged by the pastors that only after the police took a written promise from them, to not hold any meetings in the area in the future, did the police squash the complaint.

More than 15 days later the Pastor and the associate Pastor still suffer from internal injuries. It is not known whether services will be continued in the area any more.

This is not the first time that such an incident has happened with the Pastor and his associate. They were also attacked in April last year, beaten inside their church and were taken to the same police station where they claimed they were kept "for one whole night."

This is the second reported incident in this month in the state. Just a few days later a YWAM team was attacked by fundamentalists in the Dharwad district.

Eight Bible College Students Attacked In Kerela

By Vijayesh Lal

Eight students of Beerrsheba Bible College, run by the Indian Pentecostal Church of God at Maraman, Chettimukku, near Kozhencherry, were attacked and beaten up by a group of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) workers on Thursday, the 12th May 2005.

The students were waiting on the roadside to attend a funeral when a mob of RSS workers riding on motor cycles descended on the spot and physically assaulted them. The local police confirmed that the assault came without any provocation from the Bible School Students, who were caught off guard.

The names of the injured students are R. Ravindran, Rajesh, Binu Babu, T.E. Varghese, Blessen Abraham, Geo Abraham, Vinod and B. Rony.

The police acted swiftly and took the injured students to the district hospital in Kozhencherry where all of them were given first aid.

Two students i.e. Binu Babu and Blessen had to be admitted in the hospital because of the wounds received. They were discharged yesterday. One student, Rajesh nearly escaped blindness; he had received a grievous wound just above his eye. T E Varghese who was attacked with a sharp instrument also received injuries and had to be in the hospital for some time.

According to eyewitnesses, the Bible School students had gone to attend a funeral service of a former Church member. The incident happened when the body of the deceased was being taken from his home to the cemetery.

Since the house where the students were visiting for condolences was away from the main road and there was no room left for them in the bus which was taking people to the cemetery, the students decided to walk to the main road and wait there for the bus to return and pick them up for the service.

Meanwhile two RSS workers on a motorcycle, came and surveyed the matter. They saw the students walking alone to the main road and decided to attack them, knowing they were Christians. It is noteworthy that the RSS was having its meeting, the same day in the nearby area of Kozhencherry.

The two RSS volunteers soon returned with around 15 people on motorcycles and some more on a jeep. The RSS volunteers on the jeep were armed with weapons. They started beating the students without any prior warnings and were shouting anti – Christian slogans. The attackers were all under 25 years and are allegedly led by one ‘Sunil alias Visham’. Visham in the local dialect means poison.

Soon the bus which was supposed to carry the students to the cemetery arrived and the students ran into the bus for protection and to escape the beating. The RSS volunteers followed them into the bus and kept hitting them. They left them only when other Christians and by standers started arriving on the scene.

The incident has instilled fear in the hearts of the Bible College students. There have been reports of more threatening against the Bible College. Last Saturday afternoon a group of RSS people gathered outside the college and shouted anti-Christian slogans and gave mass warnings to the students. Yesterday a day scholar named Sujit, was stopped and threatened by the RSS people.

Police protection has been provided for the Bible College and the Church. The Beersheba Bible College has been in existence for the last 12 years and currently has close to 40 students, while the Church has been ministering in the area for the last 22 years.

However, the response of the Bible School to this incident is very surprising for the people in the area. Pastor Shibu Nalweli, who is the principal of the College and the Pastor of the local Church, has said that the Bible College chooses to forgive the attackers and does not want to push charges against them. The police however have registered a case against the 15 RSS workers in connection with the incident.

Islami Radicals Kidnap Christian Woman in Kashmir

Islamic hard-liners announced on Monday, May 9, that they had kidnapped a Christian woman in Kashmir, India, after she went missing late last week. She had converted to Christianity from Islam and was actively involved in Christian ministries such as translation work and producing children's Bible stories.

She is one of only a few Kashmiri women who have come to know Christ and is now influential in spreading the gospel in this severely restricted region. The kidnapping came soon after Muslim mullahs demanded last week that staff members with Asia Harvest move from their offices and leave their homes. The ministry reported that it is not unusual for Christians in the area to face threats from radical Muslims.

(Mission Network News)

YWAM Team attacked in Karnataka

May 5th 2005:

A YWAM (Youth With A Mission) team was attacked and was forced to bow down before and idol in a Hindu temple in the Kalkari villae in the Dharwad district of Karnataka.

The incident happened when the YWAM team along with a local evangelist had gone to Kalkari village to meet a new believer. The believer came from a higher cast group called the Lingayat.

It was while returning from the visit that they were stopped by three men who questioned them about their visit to the area. The men who were questioning them soon started to argue and it was with difficulty that the team managed to escape the situation only to be confronted by three more men who beat them up before dragging them to a nearby Hindu Temple. The attackers also demanded money from the team, asking for 10000 Rupees.

While the fundamentalists were trying to force the team to bow down to idols some leaders of the BJP arrived on the scene with the police and media persons.

The team was taken to the police where they were kept for about 8 hours. Jiggu Bogi a YWAM member told us, “During the time at the police station the ruffians spoke very degradingly about the sisters on the team and made fun of our Lord. Mockingly they asked our leaders to share their testimony. Both leaders counted it an opportunity to witness and shared about their changed lives since believing in Jesus as their savior. They were also asked to sing some songs and they ended up singing more love "More power more of you in my life" and worshipping the Lord in the police station.”

The scene changed after this when the police heard that the attackers had demanded 10000 Rupees from the team. They then warned the attackers and let the YWAM team go. The police even told the YWAM team that they every right to believe in any God and to preach their religion.

Sack all Christian IAS, IPS officers, says VHP

Bhubaneswar, May 9:

An official direction issued by a senior IAS officer asking all district magistrates in Orissa to rectify the process of recording the caste of "Santhal Christians" has angered the Sangh Parivar. The state Vishwa Hindu Parishad will soon start a campaign demanding the dismissal of all Christian IAS and IPS officers.

IAS officer Livinus Kindo, currently serving as a member of the board of revenue, says the recording of the caste of Santhal tribals had been incorrectly done in many tehsils. "Instead of writing 'Santhal Christian' for Christians, all the Santhals have been termed as Christians instead of mentioning the caste with their religion," Mr Kindo observed.

Subsequently, he had directed all district magistrates to rectify the mistake and submit a compliance report within three months.

The particular portion of the letter that sparked off the controversy read: "I apprehend that the state of affairs might have occurred in some other tehsils of the state of Orissa. If the caste of the Christians is not recorded properly, they may face avoidable problems in obtaining their caste certificates and other benefits."

When the Organiser, the mouthpiece of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, published an article criticising the Orissa government for favouring "converted" Christians, members of the Sangh Parivar planned to get the attention of BJP minister Manmohan Samal, who heads the revenue department.
Mr Sudhanshu Mohan Patnaik, the organising secretary of the state VHP, said, "All IAS and IPS officers belonging to the Christian community have been providing lucrative platforms for tribals to get converted."

He claimed it was an established fact that tribals were Hindus and enjoyed all the benefits provided by the Constitution. "If anybody accepts another religion, why is this particular IAS officer showing so much interest in safeguarding the benefits of the converted Christians? Mr Kindo should act impartially." The VHP organising secretary said a team could meet the revenue minister and place before him its apprehensions.

State BJP spokesperson Nayan Kishore Mohanty toned down the rhetoric of the VHP and expressed concern over the contents of the letter. Mr Mohanty said, "The party doesn’t believe in giving benefits to converted Christians. We will take up the matter with the revenue minister."

Courtesy: Asian Age

Christians arrested in Betul District of Madhya Pradesh

Christians arrested in Betul District of Madhya Pradesh on Charges of hurting religious sentiment of Hindus
By Vijayesh Lal

Three Christians (Two women and a man) from Mizoram in North East India were arrested in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh for allegedly offending Hindu Sensibilities. At the time of this report they are still in prison waiting for the court to consider their bail application.

On 4th May Thangkhuma, age 33, Lalbhang Pui , age 25 years, and Babywan Lalopuri, age 19 years, were distributing tracks in Goladongri, Betul district, Madhya Pradesh when some RSS activists complained about the content of the tracts. The charge leveled against them was that the tracts encouraged the people to kill cows and bulls and eat their meat, which is considered to be against the Hindu religion. The tracts are produced by the Bible Society of India, Madhya Pradesh.

Soon a mob formed and started to question the three who were distributing the tracts. It is reported that the mob also tried to physically assault them, this, despite the fact that two of them i.e. Lalbhang Pui and Babywan Lalopuri are girls.

They were taken to Betul, which is the district headquarter for Goladongri block and a certain Mr. Kapoor from Goladongri filed a complaint against them in the Betul Police Station. They were charged with 153 A under the Indian Penal Code.

Sections 153 A and B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) are applicable to offences for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, language etc and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony or prejudicial to national integration. Section 153 A is a non – bailable offence. That means that while the trial goes on the defendant cannot be let out on bail.

As soon as the news of their beating and arrest got out to local Christians, some of them came to help and employed a local lawyer to represent them in the case. K T Paulus, a local Christian from Goladongri even accompanied them to the police station and tried to reason things out with the police but in vain. The three were taken into police custody.

The next day they were produced before the Magistrate, Mr. D K Dubela, who rejected their bail application.

Compass spoke to the lawyer Mr. Prashant Garg and he told Compass that the three accused do not even know how to speak or read Hindi which is the local language, so how could they hurt or offend the sentiments of the majority community? He admitted however that the tracts being distributed were debatable and the RSS, VHP and its allies can easily misinterpret it even though it does not mean any harm or encourages Hindus to eat cow meat.

He informed Compass that an application for bail will now be put up in the session’s court of Betul on the coming Monday and was hopeful for their release.

The three accused are from Mizoram and are working with an organization called Soul Seekers, which is based in Aizawl in the North East India. The organization has also its office in Madhya Pradesh in a place called Burhanpur, which is about 250 kilometers away from Betul.

At the time of the incident they were visiting Betul for the purpose of meeting local Christians. During their visit they distributed some tracts too, which invoked strong reactions from the local branch of the RSS and the VHP, who then organized local people into a mob and caused the beating and arrest of the three.

This incident has resulted in tension in the area and suspicion against local Christians. Dr. Victor Choudhrie, who lives in Padhar, close to Betul, has reported that the police are now questioning even local Christians, which is causing distress to them.

Hindu Extremists in India Attack Church, Burn Bibles

NEW DELHI, May 4 (Compass) -- A crowd of nearly 500 Hindu villagers attacked the pastor of a house church, his wife and other church members in the southern state of Karnataka on May 1. The attackers sexually molested female church members and burned Bibles and other Christian literature.

About 60 people were present at the Sunday service of King Jesus Church, which meets in the home of Pastor Paulraj Raju in Mangalwarapete village near the Mysore district in Karnataka state. The church belongs to Harvest India, a Christian mission.

Pastor Charles Isaac, director of the Evangelical Free Church Urban Movement (EFCUM) of India, gave details of the attack.

"On the morning of May 1, a 500-strong mob of Hindus, who identified themselves as belonging to the Bajrang Dal, a Hindu fundamentalist group, and the Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party [BJP], entered into the church and violently attacked Pastor Raju, his wife, and other Christians.

"When the women tried to stop them from beating up Christian men, the attackers pulled at their clothes and tried to touch them sexually.

"Pastor Raju was beaten up until he started bleeding profusely. His wife was also bleeding terribly. And Mr. Nagraj, an elder of the church, was also seriously injured in the attack."

At press time, Raju was still in the hospital recovering from his injuries.

"We submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. Dharam Singh, on May 3, requesting him to protect Christians and take action against the perpetrators," Isaac told Compass.

EFCUM India is a member of the Indian Mission Association, an umbrella body of Christian churches and missions in India.

Ms. Phelomina Peris, former chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women, said, "I will visit Channapatna tomorrow to talk to the women who were molested. Such a shameful incident is against the Indian culture and against international culture."

According to Samuel Jacob, the director of Harvest India, "The mob completely damaged all the items in the hall where the worship was going on. Besides, they publicly burned Bibles and Christian literature."

The May 1 attack echoed an earlier incident on April 1, when a mob of about 200 people gathered in front of Raju's house and demanded that he close down the church and leave the district, stated Jacob.

The officers of Channapatna Police Station acted promptly. "We have arrested the five accused named in the First Information Report, and we have provided protection to Pastor Raju and his wife," said Mr. Jeyaram, the officer in charge of the investigation.

However, Jeyaram rejected the Christians' claim that the attackers were from the local Bajrang Dal and BJP. "All the accused are local residents, and they do not belong to any organization," he insisted.

A more senior police official in the district, who requested anonymity, told Compass, "The attackers seemingly had the support of the local BJP."

However, this official alleged that there were only 10 to 15 attackers and that the incident was sparked by a dispute between Raju and a neighbor named Shekhar.

"Mr. Shekhar converted to Christianity some time ago, but he recently reconverted to Hinduism, which is perhaps why Pastor Raju and he developed a quarrel," the official claimed.

Pastor Raju was beaten by local people in January and later arrested by local police on charges of attempting conversions.

"On January 14, Pastor Raju had gone to a nearby village, Rampur, where some villagers caught him and beat him up, saying he had come to convert Hindus," Isaac said. "Later, he was taken to the police station, where he was interrogated and finally asked to go back home."

On the following day, the police summoned him and arrested him for converting Hindus, a charge levied by a local Hindu, Mr. Lokesh. Raju was arrested under Section 153A(1)b of the Indian Penal Code, which prohibits any act leading to religious disharmony.

"Raju was detained until March 3, while the police did no investigation at all. He was finally released after his wife filed a petition to quash the case against him and after the Karnataka High Court passed an order for his release."

Only one million of the 52.8 million inhabitants of Karnataka state are Christians. Hindus number 44.3 million, according to 2001 census figures.

(Courtesy: Compass Direct)

Foreign funded NGOs under scanner

In a move that has left non-government organisations (NGO) in Gujarat rattled, the state government has ordered an inquiry into all NGOs getting foreign funds.

The organisations feel this is yet another attempt by the government to harass them, particularly those who do not fall in line with the ideology of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The inquiry is being seen in the light of Chief Minister Narendra Modi's statement in the tribal district of Dahod on 17 April 2002 that " these five-star activists of NGOs are serving their own interests."

A circular issued by an additional DGP on 7 March 2005 asks police stations to follow a specific procedure of inquiry. They have been asked to provide names and addresses of all the office bearers of these NGOs and to find out if they have a criminal past.

The police have also asked to find out if the NGOs are capable of "misusing" these foreign funds and give their opinion on whether the NGOs should be allowed to receive foreign funds in the future. An official of a prominent NGO said, "The police specifically wanted to know if we had projects in the tribal belt with foreign funding."

Although the NGOs have so far cooperated with the inquiry, they say the exercise is futile because the Union Government conducts its own inquiry before giving them permission to bring in funds. Besides they also submit their annual reports to the charity commissioner.

"This is a routine exercise, started mainly by the intelligence department," Vadodara police commissioner Deepak Swaroop says. "The aim is to ensure that NGOs use the funds for what they are meant for."

"Before allowing an NGO to accept funds under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) 1976, the Union Home Ministry conducts an elaborate security check," a member of a top NGO in Vadodara says. "Even the state intelligence bureau is asked to dig into the background of the organisation. This is also the first time that a policeman has knocked at my door," he adds.

To ensure that the police are not accused of an anti-minority bias, the list that the Vadodara police received from Gandhinagar includes Gujarat Ecology Society, Heritage Trust, Deepak Charitable Trust, Bal Bhavan, Bhasha Research and Publication Centre, Parsi Panchayat, Shroff Foundation and even the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

For Muslim-run organisations, however, this exercise is not new. "Every year, a police official turns up at our doorstep asking for details of our activities," secretary of one such organisation says. "We give them all details except those related to FCRA. They can get the details from the Centre or from the charity commissioner."

(Source: The Times of India)

Vicar General of Patna Archdiocese Dies of Stab Wounds, Christian Community Agitated

May 3, PATNA, Bihar: Catholic priest, Father Mathew Uzhuthal, Vicar General of Patna Archdiocese and Parish Priest of the Catholic Church, Mokama, Patna District, died, May 1, of stab injuries by a criminal, at Patna's Kurji Holy Family Hospital (KHFH), Patna.

The Christian community in Bihar has been agitated over the armed attack and injury of the priest, April 11, by a criminal youth Mr. Gyan Prakash Das, at Mokama, 95 kilometers southeast of Patna.

The news on the attack on the priest was reported several times in the newspapers and the TV.

This was the fourth incident of killing of Christian priests in Patna Archdiocese and the second at Mokama. Father Uzhuthal, aged 70, was brutally attacked in the evening of April 11, at his office-cum-residence at the priest's house in the Church compound near Nazareth Hospital, Mokama (NHM).

The priest had suffered heavy wounds on the left lower chest, and back of the neck besides several cuts around the neck. The assailant ran away from the room as another priest and Chaplain of Nazareth Hospital, Father Thomas Cheruvally, accompanied by Notre Dame Sister Suja, rushed to the spot hearing the agonizing cry of Father Uzhuthal. Collapsed and in a pool of blood, Father Uzhuthal was immediately rushed to NHM, run by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (SCN).

Brought on April 16 to Patna's Kurji Holy Family Hospital for availing treatment by specialists Father Uzhuthal was operated upon, April 23, by senior neurologist, Dr. Ramesh Chandra. However, his health deteriorated and battling for life for 19 days, he succumbed to his injuries at 00.15 hours, May 1.

What is disconcerting is the police inaction, in spite of a First Information Report (FIR) filed soon after the incident.

A delegation of concerned citizens led by the Archbishop of Patna Benedict J. Osta, Father James Amakatt, Chairperson of Mokama Citizen's Forum (MCF) and MCF member Mr. Daljeet Singh, Sister Nirmala Mulackal, Administrator of Mokama's Nazareth Hospital, Apostolic Carmel Sister Dr. Doris D'Souza, Principal of Patna Women's College and another member met the Director General of Police Mr. Narayan Mishra on April 28, and the Governor Dr. Buta Singh, on April 29.

The delegation appealed to the Governor to arrest and prosecute without delay the assailant Gyan Prakash Das, and to provide police protection to the Mission personnel at Mokama in particular, and to free Mokama town and vicinity of criminal elements who continue extortion and terror, in general.

Some Christian schools were kept closed on Monday May 2, protesting the aggression and death of Father Mathew.

The State authorities have assured the delegation of justice. The police started a round-the-clock patrolling security at the Mission compound on April 30. The police have also claimed that they have arrested five persons allegedly connected with the criminal. But the criminal who had been earlier jailed for 5 years, is still at large.

An energetic and zealous missionary, Father Mathew Uzhuthal from the Palathumkal family at Vaikom in Kerala, joined Patna diocese in 1953 and had his ecclesiastical training mostly at St. Joseph's Seminary, Mangalore. He was one of the hundreds of priests ordained by the pope himself (Paul VI) at the Eucharistic Congress on December 2, 1964, at Mumbai.

During his 40-year-priestly ministry he had served in many Mission stations as co-pastor (5 years) and parish priest (22 years). His distinguished contribution was catechetical training at Jyoti Bhawan (House of Light), the Archdiocesan Catechetical Training Centre, which he founded at Mokama.

In his condolence message during a Mass attended by nearly 2000 laity, clergy and religious, on May 1, at St. Joseph's Pro-Cathedral, Patna's Archbishop Benedict Osta thanked all doctors, nurses and others, especially the SCN nuns at NHM and the nuns at KHFH, collaboratively run by Medical Mission Sisters and SCN nuns.

In the funeral Mass held at Mokama Church from 10 a. m, Monday, May 2, the Archbishop told the people to keep to their faith and work united to overcome the anti-social elements in Mokama. Father Mathew represents all those who lost their lives fighting against violence, aggression, and greed, he added.

While deploring the death of a priest the Archbishop highlighted two messages of Father Mathew at his death: courage to stand for truth and forgiveness to the offender.
Over 3000 people including three bishops, 150 priests, a few hundred nuns and lay persons from many dioceses in Bihar and Jharkhand attended the funeral and bade a touching farewell to their spiritual guru.

SCN Sister Mercy Thundathil associated with Father Mathew for nearly 32 years said the greatest contribution of Father Mathew is empowerment of the laity through faith formation. He loved the Dalit Christians, she told SAR News, May 2.

His organizational qualities as Vicar General, an additional post he was shouldering since 1993, will be remembered in fostering lay leadership, Mr. Gabriel John, President of the Bihar unit of the All Indian Catholic Union, told SAR News.

One of his students, Mr. Shila Chandra Das, a government employee in Patna recalled how Father Mathew tirelessly worked for the youth, educating them and helping them get jobs. He maintained good contact with members of other Churches and other religions, said Church of North India (CNI) member Mr. A. Christopher.

The Church in Bihar has lost a great missionary who loved his people, Archbishop Osta said.

(Courtesy: SAR News)

Over 500 people reconverted in Orissa

Press Trust of India
Sambalpur, May 1 2005 Sunday

expressindia.com

In a reconversion ceremony, 567 Christians returned to Hinduism at Bijepur, a block headquarter town in neighbouring Bargarh district on Sunday, VHP sources said.

The ceremony was organised by the VHP and an elaborate arrangement was made at a local school premises where the people, mostly belonging to SC, had assembled.

A 'yagna' was held to mark the occasion and the people reconverted were provided with new clothes. VHP sources said that activists of the organisation had been in touch with these persons for a long time counselling them to return to Hinduism.

Members of 169 families from seven nearby villages were expected to attend the ceremony but all had not turned up, the sources said.

Asked whether they had informed the district authorities about their intention to change their faith as laid down in the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act (OFRA), the sources said, "all of them had sworn affidavits in this connection which were sent to the district authorities". Contacted, the local police said over 700 affidavits sworn by those intending to reconvert had been submitted with the authorities. Two sections of armed police and five officers had been deployed at the venue of the 'yagna' to ensure law and order but the entire procedure was completed this afternoon peacefully.

Dharma Narayan Sharma, VHP National Secretary, Rohini Parmanik, National Joint Secretary and Satyanarayan Panda, Vice-President of state VHP were present on the occasion.