Hindu radicals spread Christmas fear in Orissa

(December 21, 2010) Panic has spread among Christians in Kandhamal district of eastern India’s Orissa state after a Hindu radical outfit announced plans to hold rallies on Christmas day. On Sunday, Lambodar Kanhar, leader of Kandhamal Kui Samaj, told reporters that his group would hold the rallies in memory of a Hindu tribal Khageswar Mallick, whose mysterious death at Christmas 2007 was blamed on Christians. Bipra Charan Nayak, convener of Kandhamal Survivors Association, recalled that it was Kanhar who had called for a general strike on 2007 Christmas in the district, which resulted in violence that killed three Christians and torched 750 houses and 115 churches, convents and dispensaries. Bipra said Christians fear the cycle of violence would recur in this Christmas season if the administration failed to act. Umesh Nayak, a local Christian leader who was part of the district collector’s peace meetings, says government assurances do not calm Christians’ fear. He recalled that Kandhamal experienced seven-week anti-Christian violence starting August 2008 despite promises of safety from the federal minister.