Seven women tonsured : Christians appeal to Gov't

Bhubaneshwar(Orissa): The Catholic Bishops Conference of India and the National Council of Churches in India have appealed to the government to take quick action against those who had tonsured and beaten up nine Christians of Khilipala village in Orissa.

In a statement issued here they said:"The outrageous act of forcefully tonsuring women is a blatant act of violence against their human dignity and freedom"

Asserting that the religious freedom is the fundamental right of every citizen, the two organisations appealed to the government to take quick
action on the matter. Meanwhile, twenty victims including two infants have already left the village.

Kendrapara Superintendent of Police Dayal Gangwar, who is also in charge of Jagatsinghpur district, said he had asked the local police to arrest the culprits. He said the police had, on its own, registered a case against some people. "What can I do if the victims do not come forward to file a complaint," Mr Gangwar added.

The police have identified four persons, including three women, for the tonsure. All the four were absconding when a police team raided the village on February 16.Jagatsinghpur district SP, SK Palsania, who joined duty on Sunday night, visited the village on Monday. "What can the police do if the victims do not cooperate with the investigating team?" he asked.

"We fear the gang members may create more trouble, if we seek police help," said Gobinda Samal, a victim and father of the local pastor Subhas Samal.He along with six women and two infants are taking shelter in Bhubaneswar after deserting the village. "We left our houses like thieves," said Dolly Bhoi, another victim.

According to the victims, the trouble started last month when two girls and a young man of the village showed interest in embracing Christianity. The village, comprising mostly scheduled caste people, has nearly 240 houses of which only seven families have embraced Christianity. There was no tension in the village even though the families converted to Christianity seven years ago.

Nisha Samal, one of the tonsured women, said that some persons lead by Nimai Sethi and Sukadev Samal roughed up women in presence of all the villagers. "No one protested while women were being tortured in broad
daylight," she maintained.

The victims were identified as Dolly Bhoi, Sanjukta Kandi, Shanti Kandi, Sumitra Kandi, Umitra Kandi, Nisha Samal, Nayana Samal, Subhas Samal (Pastor) and Golakh Rout.

Meanwhile, the victims have filed petitions with the governor, chief minister, district collector, Chief Justice of Orissa, state home secretary and National Commission for Minorities, seeking justice.
The SP Palsania said, ``The pastor told me there was an altercation with his own brother, who is a Hindu. Whatever happened at Kilipala was the outcome of a family feud."