Orissa gripped by climate of fear, violence

'Reconversion' forced on some believers in riot-torn regions

Click below to hear a Mission India staff member talk with Mission Network News about the situation in Orissa

Believers in some regions of Orissa are living with fear and the constant threat of violence.

October 14, 2008

Fearing for their lives, some believers in Orissa are being forced to return to Hinduism, the New York Times reported earlier this week.

One family was told by extremists, "Embrace Hinduism, and your house will not be demolished. Otherwise, you will be killed, or you will be thrown out of the village," the October 12 New York Times article reports.

An unknown number of Christians have been forced to take part in "reconversion ceremonies," often at gun or knifepoint. The ceremonies typically involve ritual shaving of the head and drinking of cow urine or diluted cow dung, which is believed by Hindus to be purifying.

The reconversion ceremonies are just part of an overall climate of fear and violence that has gripped the Kandhamal region of Orissa since late August. Christian leaders in India say that in Orissa:

  • 50,000+ people are left homeless
  • 13,000 people are in relief camps
  • 4,300 homes were burned or destroyed
  • 400 churches and prayer halls have been destroyed
  • Up to 57 people were killed

There has been little relief from the violence in government camps where thousands of Christians have sought refuge. Two weeks ago, a series of crude, handmade bombs exploded in one camp. Extremists have also reportedly poisoned the water supply at several other camps.

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India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has condemned the violence as a "national shame" and advised the Orissa government to ensure law and order is restored.

Over the past seven weeks, Christians in at least a dozen districts in Orissa have endured relentless physical attacks and threats by Hindu extremists. The extremists' campaign of violence began in retaliation for the August 23 murder of Laxmanananda Saraswati, a Hindu fundamentalist leader.

Last week, police in Orissa confirmed that Saraswati was killed by communist insurgents, not by Christians as the extremists have maintained for weeks.

Saraswati had called for the eradication of believers from Orissa and is suspected of inciting a 10-day campaign of violence against Christians that began December 24, 2007.

Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) reports that in Orissa over 50,000 people are homeless and 13,000 are in relief camps.

Christians in Orissa have "lost everything except their faith," said EFI General Secretary Dr. Richard Howell.

Mission India's ministry in Orissa has been severely impacted by the ongoing violence. Church Planters in approximately one-third of the state are unable to minister openly and face frequent threats. Dozens of Adult Literacy programs were forced to suspend classes and many year-round Children's Bible Clubs are not meeting due to safety concerns.

The persecution has not been confined to Orissa. According to the All India Christian Council, at least 19 churches and 20 Christians in the southern state of Karnataka have been attacked. In Madhya Pradesh, four churches and four Christians schools were vandalized. Attacks on four churches have been reported in the southern state of Kerala and two churches have been damaged in India's capital, Delhi.

Pray for India's believers

Believers in Orissa and across India need your prayers as they cling to their faith in Jesus during this frightening ordeal. Your gifts will also help support Mission India's three outreach programs: Bible-based Adult Literacy Classes, Children's Bible Clubs, and Church Planter Training.

For more information or to make a donation over the phone, please call us at (877) 644-6342.