Armed Mob Threatens Christians On Palm Sunday In Kandhamal, Orissa

BHUBANESHWAR, MAR. 17, 2008, 09.30 Hrs (CBCI News):

For the first time in more than a decade, the Palm Sunday procession could not be carried out in Tiyangia village under the Raikia police station in Kandhamal district’s Udayagiri block. The pageant was called off after a crowd of armed Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) extremists threatened local Christians this morning.

Dr. John Dayal, president of All India Catholic Council (AICU) and secretary general of the All India Christian Council (AICC), reported from troubled Kandhamal district that an armed mob prevented the 180 Catholic families of the Betticola Parish in Tiyangia village to hold the traditional procession to mark the Palm Sunday.

The mob was still in the village, and growing, at the time of reporting.

Dr. Dayal quoted Betticola Parish priest Fr. Praful Sadhapati as saying that that when he came to the village at around 10 a.m. to conduct the Palm Sunday mass, he saw a huge crowd of people carrying arms and shouting slogans asking Christians to leave the area.

The mob was also using a loudspeaker to gather more people.

Sensing trouble, Fr. Praful Sadhapati informed another Catholic clergy in the Bhubaneswar Archdiocese, who reported the incident to the police inspector, identified only as Panda. The superintendent of police of Kandhamal was also informed, and police were expected to arrive at the scene.

Local Christians think the crowd was collected by the Hindutva communal organisation, whose leaders are reportedly eying for the land set apart for a Christian graveyard outside the village.

Christians are apprehending violence, and tensions have gripped the Tiyangia village and surrounding areas, Dr. Dayal said.

Asma Jahangir, United Nations Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion, was in Kandhamal yesterday to take stock of the aftermath of the violence, which began on December 24, 2007 and lasted for more than a week. The series of attacks killed at least six Christians and burned 730 houses and 95 churches.

Thousands of displaced Christian victims are in various relief camps set up by the state government of Orissa.