Hindu Militants Attack Christmas Service In India
Pastor Dale Morgan
Hindu Militants Attack Christmas Service In India*
Added: Dec 25th, 2007 1:39 AM
By Santosh Digal, BosNewsLife Asia Correspondent
BAMUNIGAM/MANILA (BosNewsLife)-- Several people were injured when a
Hindu mob attacked a Christmas worship service in India’s religiously
volatile eastern state of Orissa Monday, December 24, destroying a crib
as well as light and sound equipment, Christians told BosNewsLife.
The incident happened in the area of Bamunigam, about 336 kilometers
(210 miles) from Orissa’s capital Bhubaneswar, witnesses told BosNewsLife.
"Today a Hindu mob of around 500 people came and attacked the
Christians" gathering in a make-shift tent, "and destroyed the crib
[used for a Christmas story] as well equipment," said Praful Nayak.
“They have injured people with guns and attacked others with swords.
They also used deadly weapons instruments," he said.
At least two people were believed to have received gunshot wounds, while
an unknown number of other Christians were beaten with other weapons,
several churches sources said. Their condition was not immediately known.
SEVERAL INJURIES
"Two people have received gun injuries and many were sustained physical
injuries…More [Hindus] came with local vans to maybe more damage.
Christian people remain under threat and fear," said Priest Prodosh
Nayak of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar area, who was involved in the Christmas
worship service
Christians of several denominations, including Catholic, Baptist and
Pentecostal churches, had reportedly obtained permission from local
authorities for a united Christmas celebration in the service in the
mega-tent, and also decorated the small town with Christmas lights, said
Priest Rabindra Sabhasundar.
Police and other authorities had promised to send the security forces
but police were absent during the attack, witnesses said. “I am afraid
of another attack,” said Prasan Sualsingh the headmistress of the local
Prabhatitara Convent/Girls’ High School.
CHURCH "ALARMED"
Church authorities "have been alarmed by the incident and they have
reported to the police investigate to the matter and provide safety and
security of people," said Priest Dibakar Parichha, public relations
officer of the diocese involved in organizing Monday’s event.
Church leaders say Orissa state has a record of anti-Christian attacks
carried out by Hundu militants different parts of the state since the
late 1990s. In one of the most bloodiest known incidents, in January
1999 Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons Philip, 10,
and Timothy, eight, were burnt to death by another mob of Hindu
militants in Orissa.
The crowd accused him of forcibly converting poor Hindus to
Christianity. Christians are a minority in Orissa and in other states of
India, a predominantly Hindu nation. There have been at least 500 known
serious attacks against Christians and Christian institutions within the
last two years across India, said the Global Council of Indian
Christians (GCIC) in a recent report.