Voice Of the Martyrs, Australia (VOMA) said it has learned that Christians in Orissa’s Kandhamal district continue to face expulsion and threats from Hindu extremists.
VOMA, which closely monitors the situation of Christians in Asia and other parts of the world, said it had urged its supporters to "Pray for protection for the Christian families who still do not have adequate shelter."
At least 730 homes and 95 churches were burned and destroyed in the Christmas season violence, according to church estimates. "Pray they [the Christians] will not be afraid of those harassing them, but will respond to them with love," VOMA wrote in a ‘prayer watch’ message to its supporters. It also said it was time that, "The government will take action to bring aid to the Christian families, and that peace will return to the area."
NO SHELTER
In published comments the secretary general of rights group All India Christian Council, John Dayal, said he was especially concerned about Christian girls who he claimed "cannot go to school for fear of molestation after threats have been issued to Christians."
Dayal, who investigated the situation of Christians, reportedly said he was "deeply disappointed and saddened" by what he called the "lethargic and insensitive, almost inhuman, response" of the federal and the state governments in the Kandhamal crisis.
He said that while the raining season beging, up to 400 families are still homeless, in part because of financial mismanagement by the local authorities. Indian officials had no comment, although authorities have made clear they are supporting refugee camps. Rights group have linked the recent violence to opposition among Hindu groups to the spread of Christianity. Most of India’s 1.1 billion people are Hindus.
