Rumours Kandhamal victim was ritually sacrificed.

On Murder anniversary in Orissa, , Fast Courts, Faster Acquittals

Rumours Kandhamal victim was ritually sacrificed.

By John Dayal, with detailed inputs from Ajaya Kumar Singh in Orissa:

September 25, 2009

Why are there so many acquittals in the Fast Track courts trying the cases of murders and arsons in Kandhamal during August-September 2008?

Indian Human Rights groups are aghast at the outcome of murder cases in these courts. In one case the son testified in the court that he was witness to the killing of his father and knows the killers. Yet, the accused were acquitted. And now there are rumours that perhaps it was more than a mere murder – that it was a case of a ritual human sacrifice, for which once Kandhamal was notorious in the country.

In the second murder case, the witness out of intimidation and possibly other considerations including money, turned hostile in court. He was taken to the courts by friends of the accused in their vehicle.

Some families of the victims have in fact been forced to become Hindus and join the RSS, local people say.

In his latest report from Orissa, Ajaya Kumar Singh interviewed the son of the victim who had been dragged from a running public bus full of passengers. At least two witnesses had said he was dragged from the bus only to be found murdered next day by a mob led by the man who later became a BJP legislator. The killer gang and their leader run scot free.

Patently, the police investigation is a sham, so also is the prosecution.

It was an irony that the acquittal came on the first anniversary of the murder. Kantheswar Digal, 60 years, a Catholic Christian of Sankarakhole of Chakapada block was dragged from a public transport and was killed brutally after one month of killing of Swami Laxmanananda allegedly killed by the Maoists.

The judge of the Fast Track court-II C R Das acquitted Pradhan and another accused Mantu Nayak of the murdering Kantheswar Digal.

Manoj Pradhan was arrested in October last year and sent to jail. He, however, won the last State Legislative Assembly election from G Udaygiri segment in Kandhamal from jail. He was released from jail for 15 days in July this year to enable him to take oath as member of the Orissa assembly.

In a separate case, the fast track court acquitted five others accused of setting houses on fire at Tikabali area on August 26, 2008, three days after the killing of Lakhmanananda Saraswati.

With these acquittals of seven persons today, the total number of persons acquitted has risen to 95 while 24 persons have been convicted so far.

Kantheswar left his native village soon after the anti-Christian program along with his wife to escape and stay safely with his only son, Rajendra Digal, 28, in Bhubaneswar. He was a cook in the Parish Catholic Church. All his life time earnings, he invested on a starting of grocery shop. Besides, he was into trading and had a herd of 35 goats. He was enterprising. He could not remain idle in Bhubaneswar as refugee any longer. He had just returned to his village to see his house and livestock presuming normalcy has been restored.

Seeing the violence around, he sold 24 goats for Rs 40,000 in a distress sale and informed his son that he would be returning to Bhubaneswar. He boarded Sagar Suraj Public Bus heading for district headquarter. Public transport is the safest for transportation for the Christian refugees. Hardly, he has travelled a kilometre or so, the hindu radicals allegedly led by Manoj Pradhan stopped the public bus and dragged Mr. Digal in full view of passengers around noon time on 24^th of September 2008.

The old man’s cries went in vain as the attackers dragged him while slashing his leg so that he could not run. They took him to a nearby forest while looting and razing his house and shop to the ground. They took away all 8 goats and feasted the whole night. Digal’s son, Rajendra said, ‘The attackers forced the Christians to become Hindus and join the feast’. Kantheswar was given good feast that night and was taken away to unknown place. Rajendra apprehending danger to his father informed the police and the administration. Thakur Digal filed a missing-personal complaint.

The police did not take interest to look for the missing father, complained the son. ‘After 12 days, Digal’s body was found 40 kilometers away from the village with acid charred face and naked state. The genitals had been chopped off. The body was found along with another Christian couple, who were government officials.

Human Sacrifice?: “I have heard my father was not killed instantly. The fanatics had all the rituals and he was sacrificed”. Rajendra does not know the reasons for all this as his father was a very good person and was close to the church. On being asked about the acquittal of the accused, “ I cannot understand as the attackers are known and there are witnesses, who say that they have seen him being dragged out of the public bus. Yet, they are acquitted”. The lawyer supporting the victim tries to reason out saying the proper investigation and strong prosecution would have made the matter different”.

In another murder related case where a woman was burnt alive in a house while another non-Christian tribal leader was killed for defending the Christians, the five witness families are on the run for testifying the truth while the accused are on a prowl and roaming freely in villages. There are several reports of intimidations and threats for the witnesses against the accused from different villages Dodingia, K. Nuagam, Phiringia and Solesoru testifying before the courts. Police instead of taking action against the people, refused to receive complains.

Dr. Augustine Singh, the psychologist, who had held counsel sessions for the victim’s wife was disappointed at the acquittal. “We need to support the victims’ families and encourage them to keep the fight on so that nobody is denied of justice’.

There is increase demand for protection of the witnesses, strong prosecution and robust investigation before charge sheet of the accused is the unanimous opinions of the Christian communities. “Without these, justice will be derailed, Paul Pradhan, 48, a civil right activist says.

Memorandum submitted by OMASA to the President of India

To

The President of India,
Rastrapati Bhawan
New Delhi.

Sub: Proper investigation and punishment of the Orissa police for their Indifference and failure to protect the life and properties of the victims of Kandhamal violence

Dear Madam,

It may not be out of place to mention that Kandhamal violence was a black spot in a human society in which we live. The violence that perpetuated against the dalit and tribals, who chose to become Christians engineered by the Sangh Parivar. The violence against dalit and tribal Christians claimed 75 lives, scores of women molested and raped; looting and burning and destroying 6000 households and displacing and snatching livelihoods of nearly 25000 people. Worse, still hundreds of people cannot return to their own native soils to enjoy their constitutional and fundamental rights as citizens of the country. The role of police both rank and file in the violence has come under question.

a. Sister Meena, a Tribal Catholic Sister narrated before media and others of her plight that the police remained mute spectators when she was paraded and gang raped by the fanatic murderous mob. Rather, they tacitly supported as her cry for protection became futile while the culprits became emboldened in the presence of the police to carry out further crime. The incident continued for hours and whole day. Worse, still, she was being pressurized not to state the facts by the police officials as mentioned in her press conference.

b. When the nun gang rape case came to light, after two months, the state government woke up and Mr.Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Orissa ordered the collector and superintendent of police, Kandhamal to assess and give the report of gangrape of Sister Meena in K.Nuagam, Kandhamal. The joint report of District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of Kandhalmal corroborated the news report resulting in the suspension of five police persons. (News item published in the daily Oriya newspaper “Sambad” Dt 01.11.08). It reflected the role of police personnel.

c. During our visit to Kandhamal camps and villages, we came across several affected people, who had narratives as how police remained mute spectators in a way encouraging the perpetrators.

To cite a few examples; in Dibya Jyoti centres and Jana Vikas, in K.Nuagam, Srasanada Tuberculosis centre in Telapally under Phiringia block run by Missionary charity where a platoon of the police personnel was stationed. The administration had been informed of the possible attack on Gadaguda and Rudangia gram panchayats and police forces were stationed within 15 minutes, yet the people are killed and hundreds of households burnt to ashes as late as October 30th, 2009.

d.The then Orissa Home Secretary Sri. Tarunkanti Mishra admitted that people had lost faith on the local administration and the same to be restored. Why the people lose faith in the administration? (News item published in the daily news paper “Samaj” Dtd 3.9.08)

e. The inquiry commission for Kandhamal violence justice Sj Sarat Chandra Mohapatra has made Police and administration responsible for the Kandhamal violence. (Daily newspaper “Sambad” Dtd 2.7.09).

f. The delegates under the leadership of Archbishop Dr. Raphael Cheenath, SVD demanded for CBI inquiry, since, for his people it was hard to trust the local police personnel and administration on their action. Hence, later on the Archbishop handed over a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Orissa (Published in the daily news paper “Sambad” Dtd 11.11.08)

g. Sri. A.K. Upadhyay IPS now working as DIG (Training) in Bijupatnaik state police Academy, has written a letter to the Director General of Police while marking copy to different high ranking officers of the state Government including the Home Secretary, Orissa. He accuses and names 13 Indian Police Administrative officers including the then Director General of Police, Mr.Gopal Nanda of dereliction of duties in protecting the life and properties of the dalits and tribals especially those who chose to become Christians in Kandhamal. He is bewildered to note that the officers of this kind are rewarded with awards for their services. (Published in the daily Oriya newspaper “Dharitri” Dtd 03.9.2009). The allegations of Mr.Upadhyaya are very serious in nature and it corroborates what the victims were apprehending and experiences.

h. The state government went on claiming that the situation is normal and was indifference to protection of dalit and tribal, who chose to become Christians for seven months. In 1999, Graham Staines and his two minor sons were brutally burnt alive by the Bajrang Dal under the leadership of infamous Dara Singh. The then central government knew the fact, but responded to it in a lukewarm way. The then central team of three prominent central ministers; George Fernandes, Murali Manohar Joshi and Naveen Patnaik. They called it as International Conspiracy and thus, tried to escape from their responsibility. This is the indifferent and careless tendency of the central as well as state government while innocent citizens lose their lives and properties at the forces of fanatics.

Taking the total stock of situation, we may reach a conclusion that the Kandhamal violence was deliberate and intentional in close nexus with some section of police administration in particular and local and state administration in general.

There are reports of certain government officials were actively involved in this carnage. The blood sucking fanatics and criminal elements got a free hand to perpetuate the violence of all forms; looting, arsoning, molesting and raping, burning and destroying the houses, institutions and worship places and murders of barbaric kinds unheard of on the helpless victims.

The Sangh Parivar elements made good use of the state machinery to eliminate the indigenous dalit and tribals. The state has failed its duty to protect life and properties of the citizens.i. More importantly, no other person in a country knows about the security and role of police than a home minister of a country. Home Minister of India, Sri P. Chidambaram after his visit to Kandhamal, who made a study and came to conclusion. It is total negligence. He has had no option, but squarely blamed the state police for its failure to prevent the attacks by mobs on Christian community. He said, “The police have failed to give protection to Christian people of Kandhamal. They have failed completely.”

In the above background a detail enquiry is the necessity in order to bring the facts to the limelight in the fairness of the administration and justice. It would be highly appreciated if the matter would be taken up with the CBI for the better and impartial investigation.

We demand a white paper on the role of police and administration in the violence covering all the records of verbal and written instructions and decisions of the police maintaining law and order in Kandhamal from the beginning till day; receiving complaints, registration of the cases, enquiry and charge sheets of cases, attempts and successes in arresting the culprits.

We, therefore, request to treat the matter as serious one and look forward the immediate action on unearthing the role of police and administration in nexus with the criminal elements to perpetuate the violence within three months.

Yours faithfully

Sukhdev Behera
President
Orissa Manavika Surakhya Abhiyan(OMASA)
Plot No.2297, Jayadev Vihar, Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar 751013, Odisha,
E- mail: omasaorissa@gmail.com

The first life imprisonment for Orissa anti-Christian pogrom

By Ajay Kumar Singh

Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews) The first sentence of life imprisonment for 5 youths, accused in the trials regarding the anti-Christian violence’s in Orissa was given today in the court of Kandhamal. Sentenced to life are Papu Pradhan (30), Sabito Pradhan (30), Dharmaraj (32), Mania Pradhan (28) and Abhinas Pradhan (29). The five have been declared guilty for 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 a case of murder. The previous two involved amongst other people, Manoj Pradhan, member of Parliament in Orissa for the Hindu party Bharatiya Janata Party, but were closed with the acquittal of the accused.

Akbar Digal, 40, 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 pastor house to house looting and burning them. 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 convertor 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 sentencing of the assassins renewed the hope 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 older brother of the victim tells “ 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 sentence of the five coincides with the acquittal of other five in another case for arson and violence against Christian closed today in the court of Bhubaneswar. Up to date the two courts that are examining the cases related to the pogrom put in prison 19 persons and released 88.

6 convicted, 5 acquitted in communal cases in Kandhamal, Orissa

By Ajaya Kumar Singh

23rd September 2009

In the major case, the fast track court in Kandhamal today, 23rd September 2009, convicted 5 accused with life imprisonment for the murder of Akbar Digal and fined them 5,000 ruppees (USD 120) for arson and looting as well as burning of the houses. The five accused are 1. Popu Pradhan 2. Sabito Pradhan 3. Dharmaraj Pradhan 4. Mania Pradhan and 5. Abhinas Pradhan.

This is the third trial of murder cases. In the previous two cases, Bharatiya Janata Party Legistlator, Orissa Assembly Manoj Pradhan and others were acquitted of the murder crimes.

Akbar Digal, 40, Sulesoru village of Burbinaju post under Tikabali police station in Kandhamal district, Orissa was a pastor in Totomaha village in Mondakia Gram Panchayat under Raikia block. As the hindu radicals trooped into the village, the dalit Christian villagers run for their life. Akbar, pastor could run into turmeric field for a cover on 26th of September 2009 while his wife and 5 year child run in another direction. The murderous radicals were determined not to return without their target, Pastor Akbar. They searched every house one by one, looting the valuable and setting the house on fire. Akbar could not escape the murderous eyes as they marched towards the turmeric fields. He was caught and was asked to denounce Christ and become Hindu. ‘Be Hindu and save your life’. He refused. The attackers could not wait longer. They beheaded and cut into pieces. The Holy Bible was in the place thrown into the corner. Once the murderous crowd left the place, the wife came only to see his dismembered and burnt body. He left for heavenly abode with a young wife and five year child.

This has emboldened the Christian community. There is definite reassurance that the justice be ensured for the kandhamal victims. Jay Prakash, 46, brother of Akbar said, “We are happy that justice is done to our brother soul. The barbaric attack demands severe punishment of the culprits’.

Bulgan Digal, 48, elder brother, who has retired from Indian Air Force says, “When I used to read the newspapers about the culprits being acquitted, I had given up hope of justice for us. This judgement will boast the confidence of the witnesses as well as sagging moral of the Kandhamal victims of the fight for justice’. He hastened to add,”It would deter the cuprits for committing similar crime future’.

His Grace, Dr.Raphael Cheenath,Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar said, " We are happy and welcome the court verdict. This would enhance and embolden the christian community as well as the intimidated and frightened witnesses to come forward to give witnesses". " I hope the witnesses would come forward to testify the truth. The struggle for justice has to go on and justice should be ensured for the victims'.

On 22 September, the fast-track court in Orissa State Tuesday sentenced six people to three-year rigorous imprisonment

for their role in the communal violence in Kandhamal district last year, but acquitted five others accused.

“Six persons have been awarded rigorous punishment of three years and Rs.4, 000 (US$_100__) fine,” said public prosecutor P. K. Patra, while five accused were set free. In another case, it has released 6 accused on bail.

So far, the fast track court has completed 21 cases related to anti- Christian pogrom that was carried out by Hindu fanatics. The court has convicted 19 persons while released 88 persons in the communal violence in Kandhamal.

The fast-track court in Kandhamal, about 215 km from the state capital, Bhubaneswar, was hearing a case relating to the torching of a house of a journalist named Ashok Kumar Ray in Phiringia village. “I am welcome the court’s verdict’, said Ashok and went on to add, ‘I shall get full justice, if mastermind of our house burning attack behind the bar’. Ashok Ray had a grocery shop. One of the convicted, Tapan was working in the shop. On hearing the attack on a Parish Church, Ashok, a hindu said to the radical hindu friends that they have not done right in pulling down a Parish church in Pabingia, 30 K.M. away from the district headquarters. This did not go well with the radicals, who by now concluded that he was taking side of the Christians and raised his shop and house to the ground.

So far 19 radical Hindus have been convicted, and 88 set free in 21 communal cases in Kandhamal

The judgement has not come without price. He testified against the accused before fast track court. The accused were furious. He was heckled and threatened outside the court premises during the testimonies. Mr.Ashok brought the matter before the court, which directed the complainant to report to the police. He reported to the police against the accused. The police refused to accept the complaint until it is brought before the Superintendent of Police, Phulbani. By the time, the accused hand in globe with the local police threatened Mr.Ashok to withdraw a case or ready to be booked under Prevention of Atrocities against SC/ST Act. Mr.Ashok had to withdraw case fearing the arrest on the pretext of this Act as he does not belong to these communities.

Fr.Prasan Singh said,” I am happy at this verdict’, but hasted to add, ‘the acquittal rate is alarming as hundreds involved in 21 cases settled so far and only 19 accused are only convicted. The police has to do a proper investigation if at all we shall have more convictions”.

The Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, said, ‘We welcome the verdict. It shall boast the witnesses not to be cowed down, but testify the truth”. The prelate, who has become a voice against the anti-Christian violence, adds, ‘I am concerned about the acquittals of the accused in the heinous crimes like murders’. He calls for ‘a very strong prosecution, well-knit investigation and protection of the witnesses’ to give justice to the victims.

More than 50,000 Christians fled their villages after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs, who held Christians responsible for Saraswati’s killing although police blamed Maoists for the crime. The violence claimed 70 persons while around 5000 houses burnt to ashes. The Maoists too later owned the responsibility for the killings of Saraswati and his four aides.

Archbishop Cheenath slams conversion charges

By: CT News Desk

Saturday, 19 September 2009, 14:38 (IST)

Statements that religious conversions went unchecked and was a reason for sparking the anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal was slammed by the Archbishop of Orissa Raphael Cheenath.

Appearing before the investigating Justice SC Mohapatra Commission, former district collector of Kandhamal Gangadhar Singh on Wednesday said religious conversions was rampant and went without following the statutory provisions of the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act (OFRA), 1967.

"There were many cases of conversions but few intimated the district administration," Singh said.

Archbishop Cheenath called the statements "ridiculous" and told the AsiaNews that much of Singh’s testimony is ambiguous and based on outdated information.

“Why did they not bring to light the irregularities prior to this?” he asked. “Can they prove what they say? [. . .] The Orissa Freedom of Religion Act was enacted in 1967, and only now after the wave of anti- Christian persecution, do they mention some violations of the law!

This is all a game played to make the government appear innocent.”

Apart from conversions, fake caste certificates, tensions between tribals and Dalits and others were mentioned before the Commission investigating last year's brutal violence on Christians in Orissa's communally-sensitive Kandhamal district.

Further, the Orissa police also denied receiving any threat letter against Swami Laxmananda Saraswati before he was murdered. But, former DGP Gopal Nanda said police had prior information that Saraswati was under threat from some group.

Archbishop Cheenath feels the officials’ version of events is but the latest chapter “in the game played by government authorities and the Sangh Parivar (Hindu fundamentalist group) to continue persecuting Christians.”

“Most shamefully and regrettably, officials are working with the Sangh Parivar to drive out the vulnerable Christian minority from Kandhamal,” he was quoted saying.

Copyright © 2009 Christian Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior permission.

Hindutva's Violent History

Hindutva's Violent History

By Angana Chatterji

06 September, 2008
Tehelka

Hindutva's production of culture and nation is often marked by savagery. On 23 August 2008, Lakshmanananda Saraswati, Orissa's Hindu nationalist icon, was murdered with four disciples in Jalespeta in Kandhamal district. State authorities alleged the attackers to be Maoists (and a group has subsequently claimed the murder). But the Sangh Parviar held the Christian community responsible, even though there is no evidence or history to suggest the armed mobilisation of Christian groups in Orissa.

After the murder, the All India Christian Council stated: “The Christian community in India abhors violence, condemns all acts of terrorism, and opposes groups of people taking the law into their own hands”. Gouri Prasad Rath, General Secretary, VHPOrissa, stated: “Christians have killed Swamiji. We will give a befitting reply. We would be forced to opt for violent protests if action is not taken against the killers”.

Following which, violence engulfed the district. Churches and Christian houses razed to the ground, frightened Christians hiding in the jungles or in relief camps. Officials record the death toll at 13, local leaders at 20, while the Asian Centre for Human Rights noted 50.

The Sangh’s history in postcolonial Orissa is long and violent. Virulent Hindutva campaigns against minority groups reverberated in Rourkela in 1964, Cuttack in 1968 and 1992, Bhadrak in 1986 and 1991, Soro in 1991. The Kandhamal riots were not unforeseen.

Since 2000, the Sangh has been strengthened by the Bharatiya Janata Party's coalition government with the Biju Janata Dal. In October 2002, a Shiv Sena unit in Balasore district declared the formation of the first Hindu ‘suicide squad’. In March 2006, Rath stated that the “VHP believes that the security measures initiated by the Government [for protection of Hindus] are not adequate and hence Hindu society has taken the responsibility for it.”

The VHP has 1,25,000 primary workers in Orissa. The RSS operates 6,000 shakhas with a 1,50,000 plus cadre. The Bajrang Dal has 50,000 activists working in 200 akharas. BJP workers number above 4,50,000. BJP Mohila Morcha, Durga Vahini (7,000 outfits in 117 sites), and Rashtriya Sevika Samiti (80 centres) are three major Sangh women's organisations. BJP Yuva Morcha, Youth Wing, Adivasi Morcha and Mohila Morcha have a prominent base. Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh manages 171 trade unions with a cadre of 1,82,000. The 30,000-strong Bharatiya Kisan Sangh functions in 100 blocks. The Sangh also operates various trusts and branches of national and international institutions to aid fundraising, including Friends of Tribal Society, Samarpan Charitable Trust, Sookruti, Yasodha Sadan, and Odisha International Centre. Sectarian development and education are carried out by Ekal Vidyalayas, Vanavasi Kalyan Ashrams/Parishads (VKAs), Vivekananda Kendras, Shiksha Vikas Samitis and Sewa Bharatis — cementing the brickwork for hate and civil polarisation.

This massive mobilisation has erupted in ugly incidents against both Christians and Muslims. In 1998, 5,000 Sangh activists allegedly attacked the Christian dominated Ramgiri-Udaygiri villages in Gajapati district, setting fire to 92 homes, a church, police station, and several government vehicles. Earlier, Sangh activists allegedly entered the local jail forcibly and burned two Christian prisoners to death. In 1999, Graham Staines, 58, an Australian missionary and his 10- and six-year-old sons were torched in Manoharpur village in Keonjhar. A Catholic nun, Jacqueline Mary was gangraped by men in Mayurbhanj and Arul Das, a Catholic priest, was murdered in Jamabani, Mayurbhanj, followed by the destruction of churches in Kandhamal. In 2002, the VHP converted 5,000 people to Hinduism. In 2003, the VKA organised a 15,000- member rally in Bhubaneswar, propagating that Adivasi (and Dalit) converts to Christianity be denied affirmative action. In 2004, seven women and a male pastor were forcibly tonsured in Kilipal, Jagatsinghpur district, and a social and economic boycott was imposed against them. A Catholic church was vandalised and the community targeted in Raikia.

Change the cast, the story is still the same. 1998: A truck transporting cattle owned by a Muslim was looted and burned, the driver’s aide beaten to death in Keonjhar district. 1999: Shiekh Rehman, a Muslim clothes merchant, was mutilated and burned to death in a public execution at the weekly market in Mayurbhanj. 2001: In Pitaipura village, Jagatsinghpur, Hindu communalists attempted to orchestrate a land-grab connected to a Muslim graveyard. On November 20, 2001, around 3,000 Hindu activists from nearby villages rioted. Muslim houses were torched, Muslim women were ill-treated, their property, including goats and other animals, stolen. 2005: In Kendrapara, a contractor was shot on Govari Embankment Road, supposedly by members of a Muslim gang. Sangh groups claimed the shooting was part of a gang war associated with Islamic extremism and called for a 12hour bandh. Hindu organisations are alleged to have looted and set Muslim shops on fire.

It is Saraswati who pioneered the Hinduisation of Kandhamal since 1969. Activists targeted Adivasis, Dalits, Christians and Muslims through socio-economic boycotts and forced conversions (named ‘re’conversion, presupposing Adivasis and Dalits as ‘originally’ Hindus).

Kandhamal first witnessed Hindutva violence in 1986. The VKAs, instated in 1987, worked to Hinduise Kondh and Kui Adivasis and polarise relations between them and Pana Dalit Christians. Kandhamal remains socio-economically vulnerable, a large percentage of its population living in poverty. Approximately 90 percent of Dalits are landless. A majority of Christians are landless or marginal landholders. Hindutva ideologues say Dalits have acquired economic benefits, augmented by Christianisation. This is not borne out in reality.

In October 2005, converting 200 Bonda Adivasi Christians to Hinduism in Malkangiri, Saraswati said: “How will we… make India a completely Hindu country? The feeling of Hindutva should come within the hearts and minds of all the people.” In April 2006, celebrating RSS architect Golwalkar’s centenary, Saraswati presided over seven yagnas attended by 30,000 Adivasis. In September 2007, supporting the VHP’s statewide road-rail blockade against the supposed destruction of the mythic ‘Ram Setu’, Saraswati conducted a Ram Dhanu Rath Yatra to mobilise Adivasis.

In 2008, Hindutva discourse named Christians as ‘conversion terrorists’. But the number of such conversions is highly inflated. They claim there are rampant and forced conversions in Phulbani-Kandhamal. But the Christian population in Kandhamal is 1,17,950 while Hindus number 5,27,757. Orissa Christians numbered 8,97,861 in the 2001 census — only 2.4 percent of the state’s population. Yet, Christian conversions are storied as debilitating to the majority status of Hindus while Muslims are seen as ‘infiltrating’ from Bangladesh, dislocating the ‘Oriya (and Indian) nation’.

The right to religious conversion is constitutionally authorised. Historically, conversions from Hinduism to Christianity or Islam have been a way to escape caste oppression and social stigma for Adivasis and Dalits. In February 2006, the VHP called for a law banning (non- Hindu) religious conversions. In June 2008, it urged that religious conversion be decreed a 'heinous crime' across India.

‘Reconversion’ strategies of the Sangh appear to be shifting in Orissa. The Sangh reportedly proposed to 'reconvert' 10,000 Christians in 2007. But fewer public conversion ceremonies were held in 2007 than in 2004- 2006. Converting politicised Adivasi and Dalit Christians to Hinduism is proving difficult. The Sangh has instead increased its emphasis on the Hinduisation of Adivasis through their participation in Hindu rituals, which, in effect, ‘convert’ Adivasis by assuming that they are Hindu.

The draconian Orissa Freedom of Religion Act (OFRA), 1967, must be repealed. There are enough provisions under the Indian Penal Code to prevent and prohibit conversions under duress. But consenting converts to Christianity are repeatedly charged under OFRA, while Hindutva perpetrators of forcible conversions are not. The Sangh contends that 'reconversion' to Hinduism through its ‘Ghar Vapasi’ (homecoming) campaign is not conversion but return to Hinduism, the ‘original’ faith. This allows them to dispense with the procedures under OFRA.

The Orissa Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1960 should also be repealed. It is utilised to target livelihood practices of economically disenfranchised groups, Adivasis, Dalits, Muslims, who engage in cattle trade and cow slaughter.

In fact, a CBI investigation into the activities of the VHP, RSS and Bajrang Dal is crucial as per the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Groups such as the VHP and VKA are registered as cultural and charitable organisations but their work is political in nature. They should be audited and recognised as political organisations, and their charitable status and privileges reviewed.

The state and central government's refusal to restrain Hindu militias evidences their linkage with Hindutva (BJP), soft Hindutva (Congress), and the capitulation of civil society to Hindu majoritarianism. How would the nation have reacted if groups with affiliation other than than militant Hinduism executed riot after riot: Calcutta 1946, Kota 1953, Rourkela 1964, Ranchi 1967, Ahmedabad 1969, Bhiwandi 1970, Aligarh 1978, Jamshedpur 1979, Moradabad 1980, Meerut 1982, Hyderabad 1983, Assam 1983, Delhi 1984, Bhagalpur 1989, Bhadrak 1991, Ayodhya 1992, Mumbai 1992, Gujarat 2002, Marad 2003, Jammu 2008?

The BJD-BJP government has repeatedly failed to honour the constitutional mandate separating religion from state. In 2005-06, Advocate Mihir Desai and I convened the Indian People's Tribunal on Communalism in Orissa, led by Retired Kerala Chief Justice KK Usha. The Tribunal’s findings detailed the formidable mobilisation by majoritarian communalist organisations, including in Kandhamal, and the Sangh's visible presence in 25 of 30 districts. The report did not invoke any response from the state or central government.

In January 2000, The Asian Age reported: “‘One village, one shakha’ is the new slogan of the RSS as it aims to saffronise the entire Gujarat state by 2005.” Then ensued the genocide of March 2002. In 2003, Subash Chouhan, then Bajrang Dal state convener, stated: “Orissa is the second Hindu Rajya (to Gujarat).”

We all know what has happened in Kandhamal December 2007, and again now. The communal situation in Orissa is dire. State and civil society resistance to Hindutva’s ritual and catalytic abuse cannot wait.

The writer is associate professor of anthropology at California Institute of Integral Studies and author of a forthcoming book:
Violent Gods: Hindu Nationalism in India's Present, Narratives from Orissa


From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 5, Issue 36, Dated Sept 13, 2008

Withdraw Police medals from 4 IPS officers for Kandhamal Violence

Withdraw Police medals from 4 IPS officers for Kandhamal Violence

Bhubaneswar, 2.9.09:

A.K.Upadhyay, a senior IPS officer has held

13 IPS officers, including the former Director General of Police, Sri
Gopal Nanda responsible for the Kandhamal violence. The situation got
deteriorated due to their utter negligence in taking appropriate steps
within the timeframe. Hence, Sri Upadhayay has written a letter to the
present DGP,Sri Manamohan Praharaj to withdraw the police medals
awarded to those IPS officers. The letter of Sri Upadhyay has now been
a point of discussion within the IPS circle. Mr.Upadhyaya, a 1976
Cadre IPS officer is now functioning as DIG (Trainer) in the Biju
Patnaik state Police Academy.

On last 31st August 2009, Sri Upadhyay has written a letter to the
DGP, Orissa that the 13 IPS officers holding responsibilities in
different times should submit affidavits before the Judicial
Commission constituted under the chairmanship of Sri. Sarat Chandra
Mohapatra to enquire the Kandhamal violence. It is not appropriate for
those IPS officers to escape from their responsibilities by shifting
the same on the local police personnel and officers. He said that the
additional DG Sri Deshraj Meena had gone to Kandhamal on 25th December
2007 aftermath violence in Kandhamal. Sri Meena had also gone to
Kandhmal after Janmastami violence occurred on 24.8.2008. Hence, he
should submit affidavit before the commission.

Sri Bidhu Bhusan Mishra IG was in-charge of law and order situation in
December, 2007. But he did not go there when the incident occurred.
During December 2007 Sri Pradeep Kapoor was supervising the law and
order situation, and later he was in charge of law and order; but at
the relevant time, DGP Sri Gopal Nanda did not send him. In fact, he
went to the spot only after 10 days of the incident.

The crime branch had sent IG Mr. Bijay Kumar Sharma to assess the
violence occurred during Christmas day on 25th December 2007. Special
branch IG Mr. R.P.Singh was sent to the spot immediately.
During the gangrape of nun at K.Nuagoan on 25th August, 2008, IG Mr.
Shayam Sundar Hansda was in-charge of Balliguda range. But he did not
permit lath charge to stop the “nun” rape incident rather than victim
of gang rape and Father Challan were brought to Balliguda and were
persuaded to give opinions against incidence of rape while lodging
FIR. DIG, Mr. Mahendra Pratap was kept in-charge of G.Udayagiri. The
state government entrusted to crime branch IG Mr. S.Panwar to enquire
the murder case of Swami Laxmannanda. But instead of going
immediately, he had actually gone there after 7 (seven) days. On the
pretext of health check up, he flew to Delhi. However, government is
not able to give any information regarding his treatment. Awardee Mr.
Gopabandhu Mallick was sent to Phulbani from Ist September 2008 to
15th September, 2008, but he did not permit to take actions against
the persons involved in the violence. Even he did not take any action
against the police/constables deployed in the district HQs who were
involved in firing left and right. From 1.9.2008 to 12.9.2008 Mr. A.K.
Roy was appointed in Balliguda and he had nor taken the
responsibilities. When appointed as as a crime branch IG, he created
eight stories on the assassination of Swamiji dated on 17.9.2008.
Afterwards, 18 persons were arrested on 15.12.2008. Mr. Prakash Mishra
remained as Chairman of Orissa Police Housing Corporation including
additional D.G in Sadar HQs. But he neglected his duties. DGP Mr.
Gopal Nanda did not send the police IG in-charge of law and order
situation of Kandhamal to monitor the incidents occurred during the
period from December 2007 to August 2008. Rather through them, he
forged the records. During the period from 13.9.2008 to 19.9.2008 Mr.
Satyajit Mohanty was in-charge of Balliguda. Therefore, those IPS
officers should submit their affidavits before the commission. Mr.
Upadhyay in his letter has mentioned that the medals from Mr.
R.P.Koche, R.P.Singh, Gopabandhu Mallick and Mr. Deshraj Meena should
be withdrawn from them likewise as done in the case of Mr. Binayatosha
Mishra. The copy of the letter addressed to the DG also has been sent
to the member of RDC (ND) Mr. Santosh Kumar, IAS. In this letter he
has requested the persons in the helms of affairs to withdraw the
medals on account of their inaction during the Kandhamal violence.
Along with this he also demands that the appointment given to Mr.
Gopal Nanda after his retirement must be cancelled. Even he has
written by appraising the matter to the chief Secretary Mr. Tarun
Kanti Mishra, Home secretary, Mr. Aditya Prasad Padhi, Principal
secretary to CM, Mr. Bijay Kumar Patnaik and Union Home Secretary.

Source: Local Oriya leading newspaper: DHARITRI – 03.09.2009,
translated by Madhu Yadav ( Editor: Tathagata Satpathy, Present Lok
Sabha Member),

some important links

some important links, FYI:


Book: 'Violent Gods: Hindu Nationalism in India's Present':
http://www.threeessays.com/titles.php?id=40

Search inside the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Violent-Gods-Nationalism-PresentNarratives/dp/8188789453/ref=ed_oe_h

Indian People's Tribunal report on Communalism in Orissa (September 2006):
http://www.iptindia.org/main/ipt.php?Page=Report&Report=40

Testimony to the Congressional Task Force on International Religious Freedom (December 2008):
http://www.sacw.net/article549.html

Orissa: A Gujarat in the Making (Communalism Combat, October 2003):
http://www.sabrang.com/cc/archive/2003/oct03/sreport2.html

Affidavit to the Commission of Inquiry on the Kandhamal riots in Dec 2007 (May 2008):
http://www.sacw.net/DC/CommunalismCollection/ArticlesArchive/angana_may2008.html

Orissa: Hindutva's Violent History (Tehelka, September 2008):
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main40.asp?filename=Ne130908HindutvasViolentHistory.asp

Let we forget

LEST WE FORGET

In its annual report for 2008, India’s Ministry for Home Affairs recorded that the country had witnessed a high incidence of communal violence --- as many as 943 communal incidents, mainly against Muslims and Christians, took place in which 167 persons were killed and 2,354 persons were injured. The figures were up from those of 2007, when there were 761 incidents in which 99 persons were killed and 2,227 persons were injured.

Some details:

ORISSA

14 (of 30) Districts hit

315 Villages destroyed

4,640 Houses burnt [State government earlier estimates 4,215]

54,000 Homeless initially

20,000 People still living as Internally Displaced Persons

1,500 People still in Government run camps / enclaves

120 People murdered [Estimated, but not officially acknowledged]

7 Priests/ Pastors killed

10 Fathers/Pastors/Nuns injured

3 Rapes confirmed [One of Nun]

252 Churches destroyed [estimated by State government]

13 Schools, colleges destroyed

827 cases have been registered

6 persons convicted

4 Cases in which all accused acquitted

Registered

2. KARNATAKA

8 (of 29) Districts affected

33 Churches attacked update again

53 Christians injured in attacks, including Nuns assaulted by state police.

[This does not include incidents of violence and persecution witnessed in Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and many other States in 2008-09]

The reality of Kandhamal – One year on, the crisis of State continues

Our Lord teaches us not to hate. We do not hate our enemies.

But Fear is real, specially in Orissa’s Kandhamal district.

It is not just Kandhamal, or indeed Orissa. Unfortunately, circumstances in India are such that the religious minorities and the marginalised groups, the Dalits and others, have to live under the shadow of fear, of violence and domination, hate and official impunity, always looking over the shoulder for the next threat. Priests in forest parishes, pastors in villages, evangelists in distant rural areas, and social activists live under a very real and very dark shadow of fear.

In Kandhamal a year after that dreadful day of 24^th August 2008, the situation remains terrible. We know for a fact that perhaps as many as 20,000 [of the 50,000 who were rendered homeless when almost 5,000 houses were torched by Hindutva mobs] remain internally displaced persons, living as refugees or beggars in other towns of Orissa and in nearby states, some even in Mumbai and New Delhi. Some live in Christian ghettos created by the government which could not protect them in their home villages.

We know that so called fast track courts of the Orissa government have set free known killers because the police did not prepare a sound case and because the state failed to protect witnesses who were threatened and who could not give evidence. We know that government has reneged in its promise of financial relief and rehabilitation of widows and other victims of the violence. We also know to our deep regret how even so called judicial commissions headed by retired High Court judges have tried to pin blame on Christians citing conversions as the main cause of violence without even trying to identify the perpetrators of murderous violence.

The threat is potent enough for many Christians to prefer to live in government refugee camps in ghastly conditions because the killers roam scot free in their home villages while the police look on. All this has been documented by the international media, and by noted Indian Christian investigative reporters such as Anto Akkara and Vishal Arora. Independent scholars Professor Angana Chatterji of California, and Prof Manoranjan Mohanty and Advocate Vrinda Grover, both of New Delhi have documented this. Even the National Minorities Commission has commented on it. And of course the Church and its Human Rights activists continue to raise the issue with the National and State governments. The uneasy peace is maintained by armed police whose energies have however been diverted to cope with Maoist militant activity in this region and other states.

The main threat continues to be from Hindutva elements who have tasted blood and who have prospered and flourished under official patronage. Many of them are now joining the ruling party, the Biju Janata Dal. The police and administration is also heavily infiltrated by these elements. The lack of a witness programme and the involvement of crucial police officers prevent real investigation and ensure s a miscarriage of justice. We await superior court judgments to petitions that these criminal cases be tried outside Kandhamal and outside Orissa so that witness protection programmes can be put into place. .Official impunity, the tacit support to Hindutva, and increasing polarisation do not augur well for religious minorities.

But this is our homeland, and we will remain, even if the struggle for justice has to continue indefinitely. It is the state’s duty to end violence, a duty it must carry out. We are before the Supreme Court for this, as also before the President of India. We also know that the international human rights community is watching India.

For the Christians of Orissa, and of Kandhamal in particular, there is the strength of faith which prevents the fear from becoming a routing or crippling paralysis. Even in the darkest hour of violence in Orissa a year ago, the people refused to abandon their faith, and that is where they conquered fear of that sort.

As for reconciliation, most of us have been working for reconciliation and peace. Not reconciliation as a compromise, or as a sign of defeat; not reconciliation as surrender; but reconciliation born out of forgiveness and underpinned by justice ensured by the state. Murderers and killers, who did the violence out of ideologies of hate and mischief, need to be punished, but communities need to get over the suspicion and hate and come together once more.

Time is ripe for genuine reconciliation in Orissa and elsewhere.

Page four

Demands and Recommendations which the government must implement in Orissa:

i. Investigate the forcible conversion of Christians to Hinduism, and prosecute perpetrators under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code;

ii. Ensure that (with reference to the ruling of the Supreme Court in Writ Petitions) police unfailingly assist victims of violence to submit FIRs.

iii. There must be a Witness Protection Programme put into immediate operation giving serious consideration to the need for a suitable atmosphere for victims and witnesses to testify, in order to expedite prosecutions and convictions;

iv. Investigate reports of police officers failing to register cases or showing complicity in attacks, and bring prosecutions against offending officers;

v. Supply a substantial number of investigating officers and public prosecutors, and implement fast-track courts in at least four locations in Kandhamal district.

vi. Request that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carry out an investigation into the assassination of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Lakhmanananda Saraswati and the subsequent anti-Christian violence from 24^th August 2008, paying specific attention to the root causes of this violence, including the propagation of anti-Christian hatred;

vii. The Government should take measures to carry out an extensive research with the view to rehabilitating the victims of violence, make the recommendations public, and implement them without loss of time.

viii. Provide education to displaced children

ix. Provide further compensation for those who have been affected by the violence, including covering the loss of crops, livestock and employment, and assess required levels of compensation on a case-by-case basis through certified independent evaluators;

x. Undertake to follow the recommendations of the National Commission for Minorities in September 2008 on the establishment of Peace Committees, and further to take measures to ensure that all communities are adequately represented within such Peace Committees, to enable these to promote reconciliation and inter-communal understanding with integrity;

xi. Establish a State Commission for Minorities (in the model of its national counterpart) and ensure that members of the commission are appointed by transparent and non-partisan procedures;

xii. Repeal the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967.