Religious Violence in Orissa

CRWRC Newsroom | October 30, 2008

CRWRC is committed to helping 800 families through EFICOR’s (www.eficor.org) relief program in Orissa, a state in India rocked by ever-worsening communal violence.

On August 23, 2008, a Hindu leader—Swami Laxmanand Saraswati—was killed, along with 5 of his disciples, reportedly by Maoists who are known as left-wing extremists.  Hindu fundamentalist groups took  advantage of this incident to heighten the existing  tension between Hindus and Christians.  The tension has exploded in violence.  Approximately 241 villages have been affected; hundreds of churches and thousands of houses have been burnt since August 23.  Over 45 people have been killed. 20,000 people are taking shelter in 14 relief camps set up the state government.  About 50,000 people are hiding in the forest areas, and nearly 500 people have come to Bhubhaneswar (the state capital) and Cuttak; they are staying in YMCA relief camps.  (source:  The Hindu, September 29th, 2008)

A Christian (who will go unnamed to protect his identity) who lives and works in Orissa made contact with CRWRC on October 15: 

"I am now in Bhubanewsar and helping staff in the relief camp… there are near about 1,000 peole who came from Kandamal and are staying in Bhubaneswar in different camps.  When we hear about what happened we don’t know what to think.  So badly they persecuted them and killed them."

At this time CRWRC’s relief effort will consist of non-food items:  sleeping mats, bed spreads, hygiene kits, kitchen kits, and flashlights (based on EFICOR’s October 17, 2008 proposal).  This relief effort will be carried out through the end of December, 2008.

Overall EFICOR, in the relief phase, will provide non-food items to 6,000 families.  4,000 of these families are staying in relief camps, 2,000 of these families are in other parts of Orissa. 

The rehabilitation phase following the relief phase will occur under the banner of Sphere Network Orissa and Inter Agency Group (a group of NGOs) in coordination with the government of Orissa. 

~ by Christina de Jong, CRWRC eCommunications