Here's what's happening to christians in Orissa India:
ORISSA BURNING... Its more than a week since communal violence erupted in Kandhamal district and other places of Orissa over the killing of VHP leader Swami Lakshmanananda.
Contrary government’s claim, roads in Kandhamal remained blocked even on Saturday and reporters attempting to reach the riot-affected hamlets had to return half-way. Thousands of Christian men and women are still hiding in forested hills. In the presence of police hundreds of villages where houses of Christian families had been burnt down by those protesting the killing of the Swami.
Fear and uncertainty have gripped the minds of the thousands of people who have taken shelter at the relief camps after being attacked allegedly by supporters of the VHP, its allied organizations and the ruling BJD-BJP combine. Even today many burnt bodies have been recovered from remote pockets. With their houses burnt and valuables looted, they have no place to go.
A thorough probe should be demanded and appropriate action should be taken against all organizations indulging in unconstitutional and murderous activities against the minorities in Orissa. Criminal case should be lodged against leaders and office-bearers of organizations instigation such violent acts. “There are thousands of displaced Christians whose homes were destroyed in the mob violence. Several Christian institutions, including churches, were attacked.
“There is almost an ethnic cleansing in the state”
They say that the violence in towns and cities is over, which is far from the actual truth. The villages face the strong possibility of more attacks since security forces are spread thin. Is somebody listening to the innocent cries of people who are unaware why they have been punished with such cruelty for no fault of theirs….is anybody listening…please stop killing the innocent, just to gain some political mileage…..
Let us all pray for peace in our country, Spl. for the victims of violence For those struggling for peace and justice, for churches in conflict situations, for a world without war and violence. God will turn hate to love, enemies to friends,and will fill the world with peace and love. Amen
The below given details was given on a blog developed by Kuidina Development Forum ----
1. On 24th of August Pastor Jeebaratna Lima from Khurda District, was attacked and beaten up mercilessly. The miscreants doused petrol on him and about to set him on fire but timely arrival of Police saved his life. He was in Police custody but later was released on bail next day.
2. Pastor Bahumulya Paik of Bamandei, Patpur Police Station. Ganjam District was beaten to a point of death by a mob of around 100 people. He vomited blood and later gained conciousness and managed to flee from the place while the group was engaged in attacking the local believers. Since the hospitals were closed no medical help was available. On August 26, the police escorted him to some distance by their vehicle and left him on the way to take a bus and go away.
3. Pastor Bishnu Kumbhar and his pregnant wife of village Dutta, under Madan Rampur Police Station of Kalahandi district, were chased out. To save their lives, they ran away in the darkness and hid themselves from the attackers.
4. Pastor Susanjit Beero of Tengada Pathar under Tikabali Police Station of Phulabani, was attacked by a group of Hindutva miscreants. Along with few believers he is still reported to be taking shelter in the forest though without food and clothes from the last 48 hours.
5. Pastor Dillip Koshla of Tiangia village, under Raikia Police Station was attacked by the mob. His house and property are burned and looted by the unruly mob.
6. Pastor Birendra Harijan, of Nakapolo Church under Dharmasala Police Station of Jajpur District was beaten up badly. As the miscreants were about to set his house on fire the timely arrival of police saved the disaster.
7. Pastor Amit Pani of Ampani village, Koksora Police Station(PS) under Kalahandi district was chased out and locked in a house but they manage to escape.
8. Pastor Lebiyo Raito of Kanjamendi, Nuagam PS, Phulbani, was attacked and chased away from his house. He is still hiding in the jungle.
9. Pastor Jatan Nayak, of Bhadrak district was attacked and his house ransacked. He is in the Police protection at the moment.
10. Pastor Abinash Garjang, of Tattaguda, Malkangiriis attacked and the Church building was ransacked.
11. Pastor Aurobindo Sahu of Tumgurpada Church, Bargarh District is threatened to leave the place with dire consequences.
12. District pastor Anant Benya of Badibahal church, Luisingha PS, in Bolangir District was issued threat to attack the church on 26th August.
13. Pastor Pabitra Digal and Pastor Dharmendra Digal, of Sundargarh district have received threats to their life burning the church.
14. Pastor Thomas Bhoi of Petapanga church Raikia, Kandhamal district was attacked by the mob and their household items were damaged.
15. Pastor Ramakant Pradhan of Dotta Church and Pastor Sulaisng Barik of Hatibandh Church under Sinapali PS of Nuapada District was chased away from the village. Their whereabouts are not known.
16. Pastor Bijaya Surya of Penkam Church, Gunapur PS, Rayagada District is threatened and asked to leave the place.
17. Pastor Mothilal Sagar and his family, also along with 5 Sisters and two brothers in Madekela, Godphila block were attacked but they managed to flee and hid themselves. The miscreants are searching for them.
18. More than 15 church buildings of Believers Church alone and several churches of other denomination are damaged. The rampage is still going on unabated.
19. Church building and 60 houses in Tiangia village, Raikia, Kandhamal burnt. Two Christians named Dasarath Pradhan, Bikram Naik killed.
20. Church building was bombed and destroyed. 30 houses burnt in Tengdapathar, Tikabali, Kandhamal.
21. Church and parsonage damaged, 20 houses burnt, Two believers killed in Pettapanga, Saranggada, Kandhmal.
23. Tangupada, Bargarh District, the anti-Christians have threatened the pastor Arobindo Sahu to leave and they have a plan to destroy the newly built Church.
24. Audio Visual Team are hiding in the jungle in Chandragiri, Gajapati District because of the threats.
25. BOH (Education centre for Children) in Kuttenpalli, Bolangir District having 120 students was threatened to close down.
26. Tattaguda Church of Pastor Abinash Garjang in Baipariguda, Malkangiri demolished.
27. Bhatta Palla Church of Pastor John Naik in Madanpur, Rampur, in Kalahandi demoslished.
28. Tujung Church of Pastor Basant Digal in M. Rampur Kalahandi damaged.
29. Ladapanga Church of Pastor Rajanikanth Nayak in Daringbadi damaged.
30. The residences of Pastor Bijaya Kumar Surya, Pastor Susil Lima of Miraguda, Gunupur ransacked and looted. No police protection given.
31. The Church of Pastor Junus Digal destroyed and 180 houses of Christians burnt in Balkidadi, Kandhmal. Without food and drinking water the Christians are in the jungle from last three days.
32. The church building and all the houses of the Christians in Kurmingia of Kandhamal burnt. The Christians have fled to nearby jungles.
33. Church building and houses ransacked and later burnt in Tattaguda of Malkangiri District.
34. Churches destroyed and houses burnt along with 4 believers killed in Dadingia of Raikia, Kandhamal.
35. The church of Pastor Alif Nayak alongwith 12 houses in Ranipada, Kandhamal burnt. Pastor killed.
36. Houses burnt and Christians attacked in Madkela, Tusura in Bolangir.
37. Pastors Dandapani and Junus Diagal chased out of their place but they managed to flee to safety in nearby jungle.
38. Four incidents of attacks reported in Koraput. 39. Carmel English Medium School in Khurda threatened to close down by Hindu fundamentalists.
40. Houses (50) in Raikala. Khariapada, Udaigari were bombed by petrol bombs and are completely gutted in fire.
41. Unconfirmed reports suggests around 10-11 Christians were killed in jungles by angry and unruly mob.
42. Church in Balangir demolished.
43. Complete failure of Law and Order in violence affected areas. Police and Para-millitary forces are mere spectators.
44. 300-400 attackers burnt houses of Christians in Kurmanga, Raikia.
45. Nuagaon village dominated by around 50 Christian families completely burnt down.
46. Church in Nuagaon village burnt.
47. Grace Girls Hostel having 60-70 students in Kotagarh, Phulbani attacked by more than 1000 people. Just 10 Police personnel posted for protection were not sufficient to protect the Hostel. 48. One person hacked to death and all the houses burned in Kamaguda, Mandakia Village, Kandhamal Dist. The fundamentalist group are going from village to village destroying Churches, burning houses, attacking and killing Christians. It is reported that thousands of extremists have been brought from Gujarat and Chhattisgarh to perpetrate this violence which has spread to all the districts of Orissa. Their agenda is to wipe out Chrisitians and Christianity from India starting from Orissa.
This past year I've gotten many opportunities to travel, eat good food, and enjoy good company. During Spring break I went on a mini-tour with DCho to Chicago.
Dave and I at a college cafe in chicago
This is Herb. He's the worship pastor of a church we performed at in Chicago, I miss him dearly
Currently I'm in India. It's humid and a bit hot, I'm constantly sweating, but it's great here! Here's the team: Girls:
Guys:
Together+random stranger:
After this trip, I'm going back to the East Coast!
I'll leave you with a picture of the Hyungjae Korean Mafia taking care of some business in Afghanistan:
It was everything I imagined... and more. They gave the baby some numbing agent... although, I'm not sure how well it works... This wasn't exactly what happened... but it's the only video I could find.
