Justice B K Somasekhara Commission orders grant of permission for prayers

Karnataka: Justice B K Somasekhara Commission orders grant of permission for prayers 12/19/2008 Justice B K Somasekhara Commission set up by the Karnataka Government to inquire into the attack on prayer halls in the state during September, has recommended the Davanagere District Administration to reopen the two Churches which were seized by the administration and allow the Christians to conduct peaceful prayer in seven places where the prayers were banned. The Commission recommendation is only till January one and it is upto the Distrct Administration to take a decision whether to continue it or not. The Commission held a preliminary sitting today after visiting 30l prayer halls which were ransacked during the attack. Talking to newspersons, the Commission Chairman Justice D K Somasekhara said the state government had been requested to extend the term of the Commission for another six month. more

Christmas at UTC with Widows Of Orissa Violence

INDIA  Widows Of Orissa Violence Brought Across Country For Christmas Celebration

December 11, 2008  |  IB06299.1527  |  609 words     Text size  

BANGALORE, India (UCAN) -- A Christian group here organized an advance Christmas celebration for some women widowed during anti-Christian violence in the eastern Indian state of Orissa.

Asmitha Digal is among 24 widows who lost husbands in the anti-Christian Orissa violence in India, taking part in Christmas celebration in Bangalore on Dec. 8.

"We have lost our husbands to a hate campaign, yet we believe that only love and forgiveness can bring peace in society," asserted Kadamphul Nayak, widow of Pastor Samuel Nayak.

She was among 24 widows and two children who traveled 1,400 kilometers from Orissa to the southern Indian city of Bangalore to attend the Dec. 8 celebration. The ecumenical Global Council of Indian Christians, which is based in the city and organized the event, is involved in rehabilitation work for the Orissa victims.

About 150 people from various Churches joined the celebrations held at Protestant-run United Theological College in Bangalore, 2,060 kilometers south of New Delhi. They sang together hymns of praise and joy.

The Churches and their institutions gave the guests pots and other household items, clothes and sweets. They also shared a Christmas cake, and sang Christmas carols. Some of the Orissa visitors performed a tribal dance depicting the birth of Jesus.

Retired Methodist Bishop Sampath Kumar told UCA News the faith of the simple women amazed him and made the event the most meaningful celebration in his life. "We celebrate Christmas in our fullness, but they celebrated it in an utter hopeless situation," he remarked.  more

Fearing arrest, Kandhmal tribals flee

Times of India 10 Oct 2008, 0223 hrs IST, Rajaram Satapathy,TNN

Fearing arrest, Kandhmal tribals flee  Print   Email   Discuss  Share  Save  Comment Text:

BHUBANESWAR: As the police crack down on the rioters in Kandhmal district in Orissa, hordes of tribals are deserting their villages and hiding in  Children study in a makeshift classroom at a church in Cuttack. (Reuters Photo) forests. This new phenomenon began only a few days ago after chief minister Naveen Patnaik, now under pressure from the Union government to check the violence, ordered a massive crack down on people indulging in riots. As the Centre shot a series of strong warnings to the state government and began to review the situation, the number of arrests in Kandhmal district shot up to 575. "Several villages have been nearly emptied in view of largescale arrests. Most people have run away from their villages," said a senior official. Kandh tribals of Kandhmal, who had been at war with the Panas (belonging to Scheduled Caste), majority of whom are Christians, are currently in focus in the backdrop of continuing attacks on Christians.  more