Religious violence in Odisha
December 2007 witnessed a series of communal violence against Christians in Orissa. Orissa has been one of the main states in India where Christians have experienced several cases of oppression from fundamentalist Hindu groups. The most noted one being the burning of Australian missionary Graham Staines, 58 along with his two sons Philip 10, and Timothy, 8
In December 2007, there were severe riots in the Kandhamal district of Orissa. Government had to impose curfew in order to control the situation. [1] [2]
The outbreak started on 24th December, 2007 at 8.00 a.m. at Bamunigam village, close to the police station under Daringibadi Block of Kandhamal District. Some Hindu Fundamentalists forcefully removed the Christmas decoration, which the Ambedkar Baniko Sangho comprising the local Christian entrepreneurs, had put up as a preparation for Christmas, with the due permission of the administration. This was followed by exchange of hot words between two groups, as the Fundamentalists insisted to stop Christmas celebrations. Within a few minutes a group of people who were stationed close by pounced on the members of Ambedkar Baniko Sangho with sticks, knives and other lethal weapons like guns.
Seeing the crowd coming to attack the people dispersed out of fear. The Fundamentalists began to destroy the shops of Christians. About fifteen shops were destroyed and looted. They also shot at Christian community by guns, badly injuring two of them. They also destroyed about fifteen shops belonging to the Christians and looted the property available. Several members of Ambedkar Baniko Sangho were beaten up by the mob.
On the second day, 25th December, the crowd came back and destroyed the Churches in Bamunigam area. Then they entered the Christian villages and burnt their houses and property. They were also threatened to leave their places. [3] The Prime Minister of India and other political parties condemned the violence. [4]
| Details | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Churches/Institution attacked, broken, and torched | 70 |
| Houses broken and torched | 600 |
| No of people affected by this attack | 5000 |
| Deaths | 6 |
- ^ Template:Publisher=The Hindu
- ^ Template:Publisher=The Hindu
- ^ {{Publisher= All India Christian Council(AICC) | url=http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1798/45/ |Date=12-31-2007 |Access date = 1-1-2008}}
- ^ Template:Publisher=The Hindu