B
hubaneshwar, Oct 1 : Fresh violence flared on Tuesday in eastern India between Hindus and Christian
s, leaving at least one person dead and eight wounded in an ongoing religious conflict, an official said.
The violence in Orissa state was the latest in a string of clashes that erupted last month and have left more than 30 people dead and scores of churches destroyed.
“At least one woman died and eight were injured, four critically,” senior district official Hemanta Swain said.
The dead woman was identified as Ramani Nayak, 50, but officials would not disclose her religion.
Meanwhile in India’s capital, a national Christian group called for protection, saying the Church was under attack.
“The feeling of most of our people is that of insecurity because the government has not been able to protect them from atrocities,” said the head of the National United Christian Forum and Archbishop of Delhi, Vincent Concessao.
The latest clash between the Kandh tribals and Christians was in Orissa’s Kandhamal district, which has been at the centre of the ongoing violence.
The unrest came one day after both Hindus and Christians in the state had pledged to keep the peace following appeals by officials.
Recent attacks on Christians in India have drawn condemnation from Pope Benedict and the European Union. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the violence as a “national shame.”
The attacks on churches, prayer halls and Catholic-run schools began following the murder of revered Hindu holy man Swami Laxamananda Saraswati and four of his followers on Aug. 23. The killings remain unsolved.
The Hindu newspaper on Tuesday reported a nun was gang raped and a priest who tried to protect her was badly beaten up in front of police two days after the death of the religious leader.
At the root of the violence are long-standing accusations by hardline Hindus that missionaries bribe poor tribals and low-caste Hindus to convert to Christianity by offering free education and health care.
The Hindu holy man had been associated with a radical group opposed to Hindus converting to Christianity.
hubaneshwar, Oct 1 : Fresh violence flared on Tuesday in eastern India between Hindus and Christian
s, leaving at least one person dead and eight wounded in an ongoing religious conflict, an official said.
The violence in Orissa state was the latest in a string of clashes that erupted last month and have left more than 30 people dead and scores of churches destroyed.
“At least one woman died and eight were injured, four critically,” senior district official Hemanta Swain said.
The dead woman was identified as Ramani Nayak, 50, but officials would not disclose her religion.
Meanwhile in India’s capital, a national Christian group called for protection, saying the Church was under attack.
“The feeling of most of our people is that of insecurity because the government has not been able to protect them from atrocities,” said the head of the National United Christian Forum and Archbishop of Delhi, Vincent Concessao.
The latest clash between the Kandh tribals and Christians was in Orissa’s Kandhamal district, which has been at the centre of the ongoing violence.
The unrest came one day after both Hindus and Christians in the state had pledged to keep the peace following appeals by officials.
Recent attacks on Christians in India have drawn condemnation from Pope Benedict and the European Union. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the violence as a “national shame.”
The attacks on churches, prayer halls and Catholic-run schools began following the murder of revered Hindu holy man Swami Laxamananda Saraswati and four of his followers on Aug. 23. The killings remain unsolved.
The Hindu newspaper on Tuesday reported a nun was gang raped and a priest who tried to protect her was badly beaten up in front of police two days after the death of the religious leader.
At the root of the violence are long-standing accusations by hardline Hindus that missionaries bribe poor tribals and low-caste Hindus to convert to Christianity by offering free education and health care.
The Hindu holy man had been associated with a radical group opposed to Hindus converting to Christianity.
