Christians Evicted from Relief camps in Orissa, India

The government is forcibly evicting the thousands of people who lost their homes in a spate of anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal district in August 2008.

NEW DELHI (Religious Intelligencer) - A displaced Christian woman in the eastern state of Orissa has approached the state high court alleging that the government is forcibly evicting the thousands of people who lost their homes in a spate of anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal district in August 2008.

Kesamati Pradhan from Raikia area of Kandhamal filed a public-interest litigation in the Orissa High Court seeking intervention against "forced" evacuation of the victims from relief camps "without adequate life protection measures, relief and compensation," reported The Telegraph newspaper today.

Management of various relief camps has asked the inmates to leave by handing a cheque of Rs.10,000 (approximately Ł135), 50 kg of rice and polythene against destruction of their homes, alleged the 45-year-old woman, adding that there were nearly 26,000 people in relief camps in Kandhamal.

A wave of violent attacks began in Kandhamal district following the murder of a Hindu nationalist leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, and four of his disciples in August 2008 and carried on unabated for more than two months. At least 4,500 houses and churches were burned down or damaged and more than 100 people, mainly Christians, killed. Although Maoists claimed responsibility for the assassination, Hindu nationalist groups put the blame on local Christians.

On January 5, the Supreme Court of India directed the Orissa state government, ruled by the Biju Janata Dal, a local party, and the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, to ensure protection for the Christian minority in the state.

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This article first appeared in the Religious Intelligencer and is used with permission.