India: Extremists Rewarded for Killing Christians

Extremist Hindu groups offered money, food and alcohol to mobs to kill Christians and destroy their homes, according to Christian aid workers in the eastern state of Orissa.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Inside Catholic) - The situation for Christians in Orissa, India seems to grow increasingly dire. The latest, from the Times of London:

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"Extremist Hindu groups offered money, food and alcohol to mobs to kill Christians and destroy their homes, according to Christian aid workers in the eastern state of Orissa.

The allegations follow the British Government's refusal to prevent members of two radical groups linked to the worst antiChristian violence in India since Partition entering Britain.

The US-based head of a Christian organisation that runs several orphanages in Orissa - one of India's poorest regions - claims that Christian leaders are being targeted by Hindu militants and carry a price on their heads. "The going price to kill a pastor is $250 (Ł170)," Faiz Rahman, the chairman of Good News India, said.

A spokesman for the All-India Christian Council said: "People are being offered rewards to kill, and to destroy churches and Christian properties. They are being offered foreign liquor, chicken, mutton and weapons. They are given petrol and kerosene."

When will officials step in to protect those being persecuted?

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