http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=A+different+agony+after+crossing+over&artid=AWzkW7fkH60=&SectionID=e7uPP4%7CpSiw=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=EH8HilNJ2uYAot5nzqumeA==&SEO=
A different agony after crossing over V Kamalakara Rao First Published : 21 Oct 2008 SRIKAKULAM: The agony of Christians in Orissa in the wake of attacks on them has spilled to Andhra Pradesh. About 35 Dalit Christian families, residents of Kandhamal, Boudh and G Udayagiri in Orissa have migrated to Kodu Koligam village in Moliaputti mandal in the district nine days ago. Though they are relatively far off from trouble, keeping the wolf away from the door is becoming difficult as they are not able to find enough food for their families. Koti Koligam village is 80 km away from here. The families consist of 120 members including 30 children. They left their homes in Nuvagada, Baliguda, Bacchaguda, Tummudibandha, Mandepalli, Surapalli, Barakama and G. Udayagiri and reached Kodu Koligam, which is 300 km from their habitations. A farmer from G.Udayagiri, who came here to represent their plight to the district collector, says: ``My wife, children and I have migrated to the Andhra- Orissa border (AOB) area to protect ourselves from the marauders who targeted Dalit Christians. Our houses had been set on fire. More than 300 Dalit homes have been burnt in the attacks,'' he recalls. Says Ranjit Kumar Naik, another migrant: ``Though the Orissa Government says it is taking steps to contain violence, we are not confident of peace returning to our village. We temporarily shifted to Kodu Koligam on AOB." They are leading a life of uncertainty though local Girijan Christian Sangham activists are providing them shelter and other help. Though the nightmare of the armed gangs attacking them is behind them now, they now have to find ways to deal with hunger which bares its fangs too often. ``We find it difficult to get food for our kids. We can manage without food for ourselves but how can we ask our children not to cry for food?,'' he asks. When contacted, district collector N Srikanth said: ``I came to know about the migration to the AOB. We will take appropriate measures for their stay.'' The collector said he would send officials to find out from them what their immediate needs were and how the district administration could help them out.
