Fwding this list as of August 25th only about the violence in Orissa against
the innocent and the helpless.
ORISSA ANTI CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE UPDATE 25th August 2008
*By Dr. John Dayal.* 1) *NUN REPORTED BURNT ALIVE*: A Christian woman,
possibly a nun, was reported burnt alive on 25th August 2008 by a group of
Vishwa Hindu Parishad mob which stormed the orphanage she ran in the district
of Bargarh (Orissa). Police Superintendent Ashok Biswall has told this to
news reporters. A priest who was at the orphanage was also badly hurt and is
now being treated in hospital for multiple burns. 2) *NUN RAPED*: A young
Catholic Nun of the Cuttack Bhubaneswar diocese working Jan Vikas Kendra, the
Social Service Centre at Nuagaon in Kandhamal was reportedly gang raped on 24th
August 2008 by groups of Hindutva extremists before the building itself was
destroyed. 3) *SENIOR PRIEST AND NUN INJURED*: Fr Thomas, director of the
Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Kanjimendi, less than a kilometer away from the
Social Service Centre, and another Nun were injured when the centre was
attacked. They were taken to the police station in a disheveled state as the
armed mob bayed for their blood. The Pastoral centre was then set afire. 4)
*BALLIGUDA CHURCH BUILDINGS DESTROYED AGAIN*: On 24th August 2008. Evening
lynch mobs at the block headquarters of Balliguda, in the very heart of
Kandhamal district, which had seen much violence between 24th and 26th December
2007, attacked and destroyed a Presbytery, convent and hostel damaging the
properties. 5) *The mobs in Balliguda* caught hold of two boys of the Catholic
hostel and tonsured their heads. 6) *PHULBANI CHURCH DAMAGED*: On 25th august
2008 morning followers of the late Lakshmanananda Saraswati damaged the
Catholic Church in Phulbani, the district headquarter town. 7) *MOTHER TERESA
BROTHERS ASHRAM ATTACKED*: mobs attacked the Mother Teresa Brothers' residence
and hospital in Srasanada, destroyed once before and rebuilt two months ago,
and beat up the patients. Fundamentalists have targeted Priests, religious and
also the Faithful in Pobingia also. 8) *BHUBANESWAR BISHOP'S
HOUSE ATTACKED*: On the morning of 25th August 2008, violent mobs made
several attempts to enter the compounds of Catholic Church and Archbishop's
house in the heart of the Capital of the State of Orissa. They could not enter
because of the police presence. They threw stones at the guesthouse of
Archbishop's House, damaging windows. 9) *DUBURI PARISH*; Another group of
fundamentalists entered presbytery in Duburi parish, managed by the SVDs and
destroyed and damaged property. Two priests of the parish are missing. 10)
*Mr. Jamaj Pariccha*, Director of Gramya Pragati, is attacked and his
property, vehicle etc. damaged, burnt and looted.
11) *A Baptist Church* in Akamra Jila in Bhubaneswar is also damaged. 12)
*Christian institutions* like St. Arnold's School (Kalinga Bihar), AND NISWASS
report some damage. 13) *BOUDH DISTRICT* [Adjoining Kandhamal]:
Fundamentalists enter the Catholic parish church and destroy property. People
are fleeing to safer places. But nothing seems safe. 14) *Muniguda Catholic
Fathers and Nuns'* residence have been damaged. 15) *Sambalpur HM Sister's
residence* (Ainthapalli) has suffered damage. 16) * Padanpur*: One priest is
attacked and admitted to a hospital. Hostel boys and the in charge have moved
away from the place. 17) *Madhupur Catholic Church* currently under attack.
18) *SMALL CHURCHES*: Attempted violence on small churches in various
districts, including Padampur, Sambalpur near GM College, Talsera, Dangsoroda,
Narayanipatara, Muniguda, Tummiibandh, Tangrapada, Phulbani, Balliguda,
Kalingia, Chakapad, Srasanranda. 19) *VILLAGE CHRISTIAN HOUSES ATTACKED*: Hou
ses attacked on forest hamlets of Balliguda, Kanjamandi Nuaguam (K.Nuaguam),
Tiangia (G.Udayagiri), Padangiri, Tikabali. 20) *KALAHANDI DISTRICT*: houses
burnt even though the district is more than 300 kilometers from the place
where Swami Lakshmanananda was killed. 21) *Pastor Sikandar Singh* of the
Pentecostal Mission beaten up and his house burnt in Bhawanipatna. 22)
*Kharihar*: 3 Christian shops were looted and burnt. Pastor Alok Das and
Pastor I M Senapati beaten up. 23) *Aampani*: Pastor David Diamond Pahar,
Pastor Pravin Ship, Pastor Pradhan and Pastor Barik beaten up and chased away
with their families. 24) *Naktikani*: Mob surrounds village to attack
Christians. The government has sent forces, it is reported. [This list is
compiled with assistance from Archbishop's House, Bhubaneswar and other
sources]
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