India: Life Sentence for Anti-Christian Pogrom

First sentence of life imprisonment is returned against 5 youths accused of anti-Christian violence in Orissa.

BHUBANESHWAR (AsiaNews) - On Wednesday the first sentence of life imprisonment was handed down against 5 youths, accused in the trials regarding the anti-Christian violence's in Orissa. The court of Kandhamal, levied the sentence of life for Papu Pradhan (30), Sabito Pradhan (30), Dharmaraj (32), Mania Pradhan (28) and Abhinas Pradhan (29).

The five were found guilty of the murder of Akbar Digal, a Baptist pastor and forced to pay a fine of 5 thousand rupees (around 120 dollars) for arson, looting and burning houses.

It is the third trial for this case of murder. The previous two involved other people including Manoj Pradhan, member of Parliament in Orissa for the Hindu party Bharatiya Janata Party but were closed. they ended in an acquittal on all grounds of the accused on the charge of murder.

Akbar Digal, 40 years old, was the pastor of the Protestant community in the village of Totomaha, part of the Gram Panchayat of Mandakia in the agglomeration of Riakia. On the 26th of September 2009, during the attacks by the Hindu extremists, he sought refuge in the fields whilst his wife with their five children escaped in the opposite direction.

The attackers decided to reach their prey at all costs. They searched the pastors house to loot and burn. Despite having hidden in the fields, he was not able to escape the extremists. Once they captured him, they forced him to abandon Christianity and convert to Hinduism. When he refused they decapitated him and cut his body into pieces. Once the extremists left the village, his wife found his body burnt and in torn to pieces.

The news of the sentence regarding the assassins renewed the hope in justice of the Christian community of Kandhamal . Jay Prakash, 46 years, brother of Akbar says "we are pleased that the judges bought justice to the soul of our brother. These barbaric attacks call for severe punishments for the assassins."

Bulgan Digal, 48 years and the older brother of the victim tells Asia News " When I read about the guilty being acquitted on the newspapers, I lose all hope for us. This ruling will help the witnesses of these violence's to be more courageous, bring back faith to the victims in the justice in Kandhamal and be a deterrent to repeat such brutal acts for the criminals in the future."

The sentencing of the five coincides with the acquittal of the other five in another case for arson and violence against Christians which was handed down today in the court of Bhubaneshwar. Up to date, the two courts that are examining the cases related to the pogrom have put in prison 19 persons and released 88.

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Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack- Bhubaneshwar was satisfied with the verdict. The prelate hopes that this does not hold back the witnesses, and they should testify to the truth in spite of the threats". He does not hide the fact that "he is worried for the many acquittal of the accused in terrible crimes and murders" and once again asks for "strict investigations and protection of the witnesses".