Salvationists caught up in violence against Christians in India
MEMBERS of The Salvation Army have been caught up in violence against Christians in the Indian state of Orissa. Latest reports are that two prayer halls, an officers' quarters and a boys' home have been destroyed as well as the houses of around 100 families from three corps (Salvation Army churches). More than 100 Salvationist families are thought to be still hiding in the forest. At least 20 people are known to have been killed in the violence but until the situation returns to normal it will be impossible to determine how many Salvationists have been killed or wounded.
The persecution of the Church – which appears to be well planned and managed – followed the murder of a Hindu extremist religious leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, and four of his workers on 23 August. The identity of the killers is not known but Christians have been accused of the crime by extremist Hindu organisations even though a Maoist group has claimed responsibility.
Gangs of Hindu extremists have been attacking Christians, looting and setting fire to their homes and places of worship and social care. This violence is now extending to other states, causing great concern to Salvation Army leadership.
The Salvation Army boys' home in Paburia housed 40 young boys who study in a nearby government school. The boys, from six to 15 years old, lived at the home because of poverty and other family reasons. After the Sunday meeting on 24 August, a group of 2,000-3,000 people entered the compound shouting slogans. Each person carried a weapon of some description.
As the mob destroyed the home, officer-in-charge Major Paul Kumar Sahani took his wife and family, gathered the boys together and ran to the forest. From a vantage point they saw the home and all their possessions destroyed by fire. All the houses owned by Christians in the area were torched and a number of people were killed.
For three days the Sahani family and boys from the home hid in the forest, without food or shelter and in heavy rain. On the fourth day, when they could take no more, they surrendered themselves to the leaders of the Hindu community. They were allowed to stay in a nearby school where a teacher provided food. Following contact with the district magistrate, the group was taken to a relief camp which had been established by the government. It was here that the children were reunited with their parents. Apart from the clothes they were wearing, they had lost everything.
Major Sahani and his family are now being housed in The Salvation Army's Angul Divisional Headquarters compound. Even though they are safe for the time being, life is not normal in Orissa because of curfew restrictions.
The Salvation Army has provided ready-made clothing for more than 400 people and is offering other forms of assistance. Discussions are under way about the rehabilitation of soldiers and the reconstruction of their houses, although this can only begin when the violence stops.
The situation in the area is still very tense, and there have been reports of violence against Christians in other states. The Chief Secretary of the India Northern Territory, Lieut-Colonel Paul Peter Christian, thanks Salvationists around the world for their prayer support for the people of Orissa at this time.