Fresh violence against Christians in India's Orissa region

While Christians in Orissa are still recovering from the aftermath of Kandhamal Christmas onslaught, reports are emerging of fresh violence.

Hindu activists reportedly blocked roads and attacked Christian institutions in the state. A Jesuit residence was also apparently destroyed in the assault, sources said.

"They destroyed the main gate, entered the premises, ransacked the building, and destroyed a chapel inside it, including its liturgical vestments," reported ICNS.

Sources added the attack was caused by angry Hindu mobs that objected to Christians eating meat.

Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, an 82-year-old Hindu leader who orchestrated the Kandhamal attack that killed at least eight Christians and destroyed 95 churches, is said to have instigated the attack.

While Global Council of Indian Christians confirmed that the entire district is in fear and distress, a 'Bandh', or strike, was declared in the state last week and schools, shops and institutions were closed.

"Trees have been cut in different directions and all the block head quarters have declared a Bandh. Public roads have been blocked," GCIC said.

The Chief Minister of Orissa had assured the GCIC coordinators that no anti-Christian violence would occur on the day of the Bandh.

The Kandhamal violence in December 2007 rendered some 3,500 Christians homeless, forcing them to seek shelter in government-run camps.

Meanwhile, Hindu Jagaran Samukhya (HJS), an umbrella group of the Sangh Parivar, has organised protests through villages in Orissa, shouting anti-Christian slogans on July 7.

Nearly 100 HJS activists falsely accused the Christians of torturing and forcing villagers to accept or else be killed.

False witnesses were also reportedly brought before a television channel, alleging they were physically assaulted or threatened into converting to Christianity.

In an interview for the same TV channel, Bijoy Kumar Das, District Superintendent of Police denounced these allegations as false and baseless.

"There is neither any complaint lodged so far in this regard nor they have found any such evidence of forcible conversion, threat or allurement in the area during a police inquiry," he said.