Kandhamal Update 18 March 2011
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Dr. John Dayal
Mar 18, 2011, 3:23:30 AM3/18/11
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ORISSA KANDHAMAL UPDATE
MARCH 18, 2010
Deep in village, thugs enforce economic boycott of Christians
From John Dayal
As Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, now on a farewell pastoral tour of
Kandhamal, extols the courage, faith and perseverance of the Dalit
Panos and Tribal Kondh Christians of the central Orissa district in
the face of unceasing Hindutva pressure, deep in the villages, the
economic boycott of Christians in enforced by organised gangs of
fanatical thugs.
The 77 year old Divine Word Society prelate of Orissa retires on 2nd
April 2011. Like Archbishop Alan De Lastic of Delhi who emerged the
face and voice of the community in his unflinching challenge to
persecution in the 1990s, Cheenath was the central figure in the legal
and civil society challenge to mass arson, serial murders and gang
rapes unleashed in 2007 and 2008 by members of the RSS, Adivasi Kalyan
Ashram and Bajrang Dal, whose political identity was confirmed by
Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik in the State Legislative Assembly.
Cheenath saluted his people saying “You have raised the faith into new
heights at the face of death. I am proud of you.” As he cautioned them
not to be misled by the apparent peace prevailing in the area, he said
“For the government, peace has returned, but I am not sure how long it
would remain, We cannot sit idle, but continue to fight for our
Constitutional rights, especially religious freedom to earn
sustainable peace.”
In the past, stressing that justice and peace had to go together, the
Archbishop moved the Supreme Court in 2008 when the arrogant Collector-
cum-District Magistrate Dr Krishna Kumar banned the entry of Christian
relief organisations to help the traumatised people. The Supreme Court
ruled in the Archbishop’s, favour. He has moved the Supreme Court
through the Human Rights Law Network on several issues, including a
challenge to the Orissa High Court granting bail to a convicted
murderer, Manoj Pradhan, on the plea the he was a legislator. The
Supreme Court again ruled against the lower court.
Despite these heroic efforts, much remains the same in that heavily
forested district as far as justice and state action is concerned. Br
Markose, a Gabriel Brother from Ranchi now working at the grassroots,
has been systematically reporting issues of economic boyctott an
official apathy.
In an email to me yesterday, Br Markose narrated recent cases of
vigilante decisions from Bodimunda where houses of Christians were
destroyed in August 20908. Twice during 2009, the Christians tried to
bring construction material such as sand to rebuild their houses. On
both occasions, the sand was reloaded into the tractor and taken to
the temple. The owners of tractor were fined before the vehicle was
released by the hardcore Sangh cadres of the village.
After six months, due to the untiring efforts of activists, the
villagers took courage to hire a tractor and bring sand. On 14th March
this year, Pradeep Nayak hired a tractor from village Rudangia and
brought two loads of sand. The next day, Joseph Nayak hired the
tractor of Tileshwar Digal of village Breka,. After making two trips,
driver Ishak was stopped by a mob of about 12 persons led by Birendra
Pradhan, stopped him and demanded a fine of Rs. 5051. The driver did
not have the money. He left the tractor on the road and returned to
the village.
Nabin Nayak and Bikram Nayak called Bro Markose on the phone who told
them to immediately tell the police. Pastor Sunil Paricha called up
the Superintendant of Police who referred him to the Tikabali police
station. The Police cane to Bodimunda at night and the tractor was
released. But the goons had taken away battery, jack and wrench from
the tractor in lieu of fine. They told the driver that these materials
would be returned when fine was paid.
On 17th March a four-hour long meeting was held at Catholic Church of
the village more than 60 Christian men and women participated. Finally
they wrote a formal report to the police, saying they would see the
matter through, come what may.
------------
LEGAL FACT-SHEET AND UPDATE DECEMBER 2010
Complaints lodged before the police station in Kandhamal after the
Violence of 2008 -- 3232
Cases registered -- 831
Number of cases committed to the Fast track courts 1 & 2 -- 277
Number of case Acquitted ( Violence case ) court No – 1 & 2 -- 128
Number of case Convicted ( Violence case) court No – 1 & 2 -- 59
Number of case pending trial (Violence case) court No – 1 & 2 -- 44
Accused convicted so far --183
Accused acquitted so far -- 639
MARCH 18, 2010
Deep in village, thugs enforce economic boycott of Christians
From John Dayal
As Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, now on a farewell pastoral tour of
Kandhamal, extols the courage, faith and perseverance of the Dalit
Panos and Tribal Kondh Christians of the central Orissa district in
the face of unceasing Hindutva pressure, deep in the villages, the
economic boycott of Christians in enforced by organised gangs of
fanatical thugs.
The 77 year old Divine Word Society prelate of Orissa retires on 2nd
April 2011. Like Archbishop Alan De Lastic of Delhi who emerged the
face and voice of the community in his unflinching challenge to
persecution in the 1990s, Cheenath was the central figure in the legal
and civil society challenge to mass arson, serial murders and gang
rapes unleashed in 2007 and 2008 by members of the RSS, Adivasi Kalyan
Ashram and Bajrang Dal, whose political identity was confirmed by
Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik in the State Legislative Assembly.
Cheenath saluted his people saying “You have raised the faith into new
heights at the face of death. I am proud of you.” As he cautioned them
not to be misled by the apparent peace prevailing in the area, he said
“For the government, peace has returned, but I am not sure how long it
would remain, We cannot sit idle, but continue to fight for our
Constitutional rights, especially religious freedom to earn
sustainable peace.”
In the past, stressing that justice and peace had to go together, the
Archbishop moved the Supreme Court in 2008 when the arrogant Collector-
cum-District Magistrate Dr Krishna Kumar banned the entry of Christian
relief organisations to help the traumatised people. The Supreme Court
ruled in the Archbishop’s, favour. He has moved the Supreme Court
through the Human Rights Law Network on several issues, including a
challenge to the Orissa High Court granting bail to a convicted
murderer, Manoj Pradhan, on the plea the he was a legislator. The
Supreme Court again ruled against the lower court.
Despite these heroic efforts, much remains the same in that heavily
forested district as far as justice and state action is concerned. Br
Markose, a Gabriel Brother from Ranchi now working at the grassroots,
has been systematically reporting issues of economic boyctott an
official apathy.
In an email to me yesterday, Br Markose narrated recent cases of
vigilante decisions from Bodimunda where houses of Christians were
destroyed in August 20908. Twice during 2009, the Christians tried to
bring construction material such as sand to rebuild their houses. On
both occasions, the sand was reloaded into the tractor and taken to
the temple. The owners of tractor were fined before the vehicle was
released by the hardcore Sangh cadres of the village.
After six months, due to the untiring efforts of activists, the
villagers took courage to hire a tractor and bring sand. On 14th March
this year, Pradeep Nayak hired a tractor from village Rudangia and
brought two loads of sand. The next day, Joseph Nayak hired the
tractor of Tileshwar Digal of village Breka,. After making two trips,
driver Ishak was stopped by a mob of about 12 persons led by Birendra
Pradhan, stopped him and demanded a fine of Rs. 5051. The driver did
not have the money. He left the tractor on the road and returned to
the village.
Nabin Nayak and Bikram Nayak called Bro Markose on the phone who told
them to immediately tell the police. Pastor Sunil Paricha called up
the Superintendant of Police who referred him to the Tikabali police
station. The Police cane to Bodimunda at night and the tractor was
released. But the goons had taken away battery, jack and wrench from
the tractor in lieu of fine. They told the driver that these materials
would be returned when fine was paid.
On 17th March a four-hour long meeting was held at Catholic Church of
the village more than 60 Christian men and women participated. Finally
they wrote a formal report to the police, saying they would see the
matter through, come what may.
------------
LEGAL FACT-SHEET AND UPDATE DECEMBER 2010
Complaints lodged before the police station in Kandhamal after the
Violence of 2008 -- 3232
Cases registered -- 831
Number of cases committed to the Fast track courts 1 & 2 -- 277
Number of case Acquitted ( Violence case ) court No – 1 & 2 -- 128
Number of case Convicted ( Violence case) court No – 1 & 2 -- 59
Number of case pending trial (Violence case) court No – 1 & 2 -- 44
Accused convicted so far --183
Accused acquitted so far -- 639
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