Hindu Radicals Attack Christians As Police Watch
ICC Note
This latest attack once again shows the continous plight of Christians in Orissa, India. The attacks will continue unless the Indian government starts to bring perpetrators to justice.
Washington, D.C. (November 24, 2010)–International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on November 7, Hindu radicals stormed three villages in Orissa and assaulted Christians. The attackers claimed that they were teased by Christian boys. The victims told ICC that they were attacked for refusing to pay donations for a Hindu festival called ‘Druga Festival.’
Around 250 radical Hindus stormed the villages of Peliguda, Kenduguda and Telarai near the town of Malkangiri. They broke into Christian homes after the Christians refused entry. The police were present at the scene but refused to protect the Christians.
Journalists from the Indian television channel ETV-2 videotaped the attacks and broadcasted it throughout the country.
The victims complained to the police at the Malkangiri police station but the police have not yet made arrests. The state of Orissa has been a consistent scene of attacks against Christians. In 2008, an estimated 100 Christians were killed and over 55,000 displaced after radical Hindus carried out attacks against Christians.
ICC’s Regional Manager for South Asia, Jonathan Racho, said, “We are outraged by these latest attacks against Christians in Orissa. After the 2008 anti-Christian violence, we hoped that Indian authorities would have taken actions to stem further aggression against Christians. Unfortunately, the Christians continue to face violence as this and other attacks indicate. We urge authorities of India to immediately bring the perpetrators of the attacks to justice and protect Christians from further acts of violence.”
Please call the Indian embassies in your countries and politely ask Indian officials to bring the perpetrators of these latest attacks to justice.
Indian Embassies
USA: (202) 939-7000
UK: 020 7836 8484 or 020 7632 3123
Canada: (613) 744-3751
