14 Killed in Orissa; Anti-Christian Violence Continues

14 Killed in Orissa; Anti-Christian Violence Continues
(ICNS)
In the continuing violence in Orissa, more churches and Christians houses are attacked on Wednesday, raising the death toll to 14 in the four days of hostility that began on Monday. “The situation in Kandhamal District and other parts of Orissa continues to be tense and the Christians in the State are living in fear and anxiety,” a statement from the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) said late on Wednesday. It said “law enforcing agencies have not been able to contain the violent elements that are still at large. The violent mob is destroying churches, orphanages, hostels of children, Convents of the religious women and the houses of Christian families. The CBCI has condemned the brutal murder of Swami Saraswati Lakshmanand and had clearly denied any role of Christians in his murder but it seems that the fundamentalists are taking advantage of the situation and attacking Christians, the statement said. In a circular to the Catholic Bishops of India on August 26, Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, President of CBCI has urged all the Catholic Educational Institutions to be closed on August 29 to show solidarity with the victims of violence in Orissa and observe September 7 as the day of prayer and fast. A CBCI delegation led by Archbishop Vincent called on Jaswant Singh, leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Aug. 26 and briefed him about the latest development and the concerns of the Christian community in Orissa. Meanwhile, Delhi Catholic Archdiocese along with Archbishop Vincent Concessao has begun a 48 hour Dharna (Peaceful Protest) at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi from August 27 till August 29. A Christian delegation is also planning to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on August 28 requesting him to send army to Orissa to check the continuing violence.