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[edit] Orissa

• 38 million people; 2.1% Christian

[edit] Cities

Sambalpur

[edit] Persecution

• Persecution of Christians increased during the 1990s. Orissa shares with Gujarat the worst record for Hindu extremist violence. Many churches have been destroyed and Christian workers attacked, some molested and killed. Church growth has also increased in despite harsh state anti-conversion laws.
• Kandhamal, in the state of Orissa, India, once a peaceful land, inhibited by tribals such as Kondhs and Damas, speaking a common language Kui, has been affected very much due to communal violence. The trouble began with the destruction of the Christmas decorations by people of Hindu fundamentalists at Christmas 2007. The issue was the rumour that the tribes had been forced to convert to Christianity. As a result, 730 houses and 95 churches were burnt. According to some official figure, nine Christians were killed, including two pastors, 2000 others were beaten and injured, and a number of businesses destroyed. A number of Christians have been forced to leave their homes and take refuge in the forest. This wave of violence was the largest attack on the Christian community in the history of democratic India. Unfortunately, this kind of thing happens in many parts of India as Hindu extremists react from fear of the powerful growth of the Christian movement in the nation.
• Greetings! The local Christians are so grateful for your prayers for the Christians in Kandhamal District of Orissa, India. The situation is yet to be under control. On 7th January 2008 evening another pastor was burned alive by the Hindu fanatics. Christians are fleeing away from many villages and Tribal settlement for life with bare cloths they were wearing. They are very much depressed. No media is allowed to enter this area or permitted to broadcast these reports. Orissa has seen many incidents like these, however after the murder of Graham Staines, a missionary from Australia, who was working to rehabilitate leprosy people, in the year 1999, this is the greatest persecution. As many parts of Bihar and other states are under the control of Naxalism, an anti-government outfits, people think that this district may fall in the hands of Hindu fanatics. Please, pray for the safety of local Christians and Christian missionaries who are working in these places and for the properties. Many churches and house churches were demolished and placed the Hindu flags on those places. "Many Christians are wounded and fractured!" Words cannot explain the calamity and pain they are undergoing.
• The Christians in Orissa plea to the Christian community to respond to this situation for those Christians who lost every thing. There is a need to rehabilitate them. It includes every thing, cloths, food, house etc. Hundreds of Christians are with out any cloths or home or anything to eat. They are running away for life. Please join hands in collecting used cloths and other stuffs which can be passed on to these people and raise some finance also to rehabilitate these dear children of God who are loved by God.

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