Religious violence in Odisha

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Indian state of Odisha India Orissa locator map.svg
Indian state of Odisha

Religious violence in Odisha consists of civil unrest and riots in the remote forest region surrounding the Kandhamal district in the western parts of the Indian state of Odisha.

Contents

The Kandhamal district contains several tribal reservations where only tribal people can own land. The largest community in Kandhamal is the Kandha tribe. Most Kandha tribal people follow tribal and animistic forms of Hinduism. However, the socio-economic and political landscape of Kandhamal is dominated by its second-largest community, the non-tribal Pana caste. The region is also home to the Maoist guerrillas, a revolutionary communist movement. Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda stated groups tend to recruit most of their leaders and cadre insurgents from tribal communities. He reiterated the Maoists's religious position: "We do not believe in any religion or are attached to any religious groups. We are not in favour of any religion." [1]

Major issues in Kandhamal that have led to tensions are claims that "The Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act" is violated. Such claims include the forcible occupation of tribal land, fake issuance of tribal and exploiting tribals for insurgent activities. This previously resulted in civil unrest and communal tensions in 1986, 1994 and 2001. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Background

Historical background of conversions

Franciscan missionary Friar Odoric visited India in the 14th century and wrote about his visit to Puri in a journal which he later published in Europe. In the journal, Odoric wrote in detail about a huge chariot containing idols of Hindu deities from the grand and famous Jagannath temple which is taken out annually in a procession known as the rath yatra. Odoric's account of the ceremony spread throughout Europe and by the 19th century the word juggernaut began to be associated with an unstoppable force of such proportions that is capable of destroying everything in its path. [7] Subsequently, Baptist missionaries came to Odisha in 1822 during the British Empire's colonial rule over India. [8]

After India's independence

The communal disharmony arose even before Indian independence in 1947 on aforementioned issue of religious conversion. Conversions have been legislated by the provisions of the Freedom of Religion Acts (acts replicated in numerous other parts through India). Odisha was the first provinces of independent India to enact legislation in regards to religious conversions. The Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967, mentions that no person shall "convert or attempt to convert, either directly or otherwise, any person from one religious faith to another by the use of force or by inducement or by any fraudulent means". [9] [10] Christian missions have been active in Odisha among the tribals and backward Hindu castes from the early years of the twentieth century. Right-wing Hindus have alleged that the increase in the number of Christians in Odisha has been a result of exploitation of illiteracy and impoverishment by the missionaries in contravention of the law, instead of free will. [11]

Conversion controversy

Behind the clashes are long-simmering tensions between equally impoverished groups: the Kandha tribe, who are 80% of the population, and the Pana. Both are original inhabitants of the land. There has been an Indian tradition of untouchability. Dalits, considered lower caste people, are subject to social and economic discrimination. This is outlawed in the Indian constitution. The prejudices remain. Conversion from untouchability has encouraged millions of such people to escape from their circumstances through joining other religions. The Panas have converted to Christianity in large numbers and prospered financially . [12] Over the past several decades, most of the Panas have become Dalit Christians. [13]

Hindu nationalist groups have blamed the violence on the issue of religious conversion. Conversions have been legislated by the provisions of the Freedom of Religion Acts, replicated in some of the states in India. Odisha was the first state of independent India to enact legislation on religious conversions. The Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967, stipulates that 'no person shall "convert or attempt to convert, either directly or otherwise, any person from one religious faith to another by the use of force or by inducement or by any fraudulent means"'. [10] [14] Hindus claim the Christian missionaries were converting poor tribal people by feeding them beef, which is taboo in Hinduism.[ citation needed ]

The missionaries would upgrade the mud houses of the converts into brick-lime. Hindus have further alleged that the increase in the number of Christians in Odisha has been a result of exploitation of illiteracy and impoverishment by the missionaries. [15] [16] The Census of India shows that Christian population in Kandhamal grew from around 43,000 in 1981 to 117,950 in 2001. [17]

Staines killing

Graham Staines was an Australian Christian missionary working with the Evangelical Missionary Society of Mayurbhanj, an Australian missionary society that was engaged in the education of poor and illiterate indigenous tribes in Odisha. He also worked among the leprosy patients in the region. On the night of 22 January 1999, he was sleeping in his station wagon when it was set afire. Graham and his two sons, ten-year-old Philip and six-year-old Timothy, were killed. [18] [19] Dara Singh, a Hindu fundamentalist from Etawah in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested for the crime. On 22 September 2003 a court appointed by the Central Bureau of Investigation sentenced Dara Singh to death and 12 others to life imprisonment for the murders. [20]

Dara Singh, as an active Bajrang Dal follower, was suspected of being involved in a larger conspiracy. [21] However, the Wadhwa Commission ruled out the involvement of any organization in the killings. [22] In May 2005, the Odisha High Court commuted Singh's sentence to life imprisonment. [23]

The murders were widely condemned by religious and civic leaders, politicians, and journalists. The US-based Human Rights Watch accused the then Indian Government of failing to prevent violence against Christians, and of exploiting sectarian tensions for political ends. The organisation said attacks against Christians increased "significantly" since the "Hindu Nationalist" BJP came to power. [24] Then-Prime Minister of India, Atal Behari Vajpayee, a leader of BJP, condemned the "ghastly attack" and called for swift action to catch the killers. [25] Published reports stated that church leaders alleged the attacks were carried out at the behest of hardline Hindu organisations. Hindu hardliners accused Christian missionaries of forcibly converting poor and low-caste Hindus and tribals. The convicted killer Dara Singh was treated as a hero by hardline Hindus and reportedly protected by some villagers. In an interview with the Hindustan Times, one of the accused killers, Mahendra Hembram, stated that the killers "were provoked by the "corruption of tribal culture" by the missionaries, who they claimed fed villagers beef and gave women brassieres and sanitary towels."

In her affidavit before the Commission on the death of her husband and two sons, Gladys Staines stated: [26]

"The Lord God is always with me to guide me and help me to try to accomplish the work of Graham, but I sometimes wonder why Graham was killed and also what made his assassins behave in such a brutal manner on the night of 22nd/23rd January 1999. It is far from my mind to punish the persons who were responsible for the death of my husband Graham and my two children. But it is my desire and hope that they would repent and would be reformed."

Ranalai incident

On 16 March 1999 a Hindu mob of 5,000 attacked Ranalai (PIN – 761 017) in Gajapati District and set houses on fire [27] [28] [29] and engaged in looting. Three Christian people were injured. The then Chief Minister of Odisha, Sri Giridhar Gamang, visited the village the next day.

December 2007

Incident at Brahmanigaon, Phulbani on 24 December

In December 2007, Christians had installed a Christmas arch across the road in the town of Brahmanigaon, Kandhamal district, having first received a permit from the police and sub-collector to do so. On 24 December 2007 a group of 150–200 Hindus arrived at the town market and demanded that the arch be removed. The protesters argued that the arch along with a tent set up was erected on the very site used by the Hindus to celebrate the Durga Puja festival in October. Protesters then sought to close the weekly market and attempted to close all the shops in the area. The Christian shopkeepers refused to comply with this, leading to an outbreak of violence. More than 20 shops were looted and destroyed. Three persons were killed. [30] [31]

Attack on Swami Laxmanananda

The violence escalated after news spread about Hindu monk Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati being attacked by Christian fundamentalist mob en route to the spot of the confrontation.

Saraswati stated that he had left for Brahmanigaon to boost the "morale of the majority community". The National Commission for Minorities, in its report, stated that this was "indicative of his desire to exacerbate communal tensions". [32] Swami supporters, however, claimed that Christians at Brahmanigoan village wanted to install a Christmas gate in front of a Hindu temple. This was protested by the local Hindus questioning the motive of Christians in building a second gate near temple while one gate being already present at the place. [33]

In his statement, Swami blamed Radhakant Nayak, a recent Christian convert and Congress Member of Parliament (Upper House) and chief of Christian group World Vision[ citation needed ] that allegedly led to further clashes between Hindus and Christians. [34] [35] [36]

The authorities imposed a curfew in order to control the situation. [37] [38] Concerned with rising violence, after the assault on Saraswati, some Dalit Christian leaders lodged a complaint with the Police for protection. [39]

Intervention by CRPF

By 30 December, rioting was brought under control by the security forces such as the CRPF. The total number of security personnel deployed was about 2,500 police and paramilitary. The total number of people taking shelter in relief camps increased to 1200. [40]

2007 Christmas violence in Kandhamal

The 2007 Christmas violence in Kandhamal started during 24 December 2007 and ended after 4 days between groups led by Sangh Parivar together with the Sangh-affiliated Kui Samaj and the local Christians, which resulted in more than 100 churches, over 100 church institutions and about 700 houses and other structures were burnt down or damaged and at least three people killed. [41] [42] [43]

2008 Kandhamal violence

A Christian girl who was bruised and burnt during the anti Christian violence in Orissa in August 2008. It occurred when a bomb was thrown into her house by extremists. Girl sufferedwithburnwounds.jpg
A Christian girl who was bruised and burnt during the anti Christian violence in Orissa in August 2008. It occurred when a bomb was thrown into her house by extremists.

During the 2008 Kandhamal violence, violence occurred from 25 August 2008 to 28 August 2008 between groups led by Sangh Parivar organizations and Christians in the Kandhamal district of Orissa. The started after the murder of Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati. [44] It is estimated that more than 395 churches, 5600 homes and 13 educational institutes set on fire, demolished or vandalized during the attacks and more than 90 killed (largely Christians) and 18,000 injured and 54,000 displaced. [45] [46] Another report said that around 11,000 people were still living in relief camps, as of October 2008. [47] [48] [49] Some tribals even fled away to border districts in neighbouring states and 310 villages were affected. [50] [45] [47]

In October 2008, a senior Maoist leader claimed responsibility for the murder of Laxmanananda and police officials also confirmed that the Maoists trained youth in the tribal community to murder Laxmanananda. [51] [52] [53]

Post-2008

According to the news agency Agenzia Fides, other Christians were tortured and killed in 2012. [54]

In February 2019, a Christian evangelical who had converted to Christianity nine months earlier was murdered. It is believed that the 'Hindu fanatics' of the village incited Maoists to carry out the killing. [55]

See also

Related Research Articles

Graham Stuart Staines was an Australian Christian missionary, who along with his two sons, Philip and Timothy, was burnt to death in India by members of a Hindu Nationalist group named Bajrang Dal. In 2003, Bajrang Dal activist Dara Singh was convicted of leading the murderers and was sentenced to life in prison.

Freedom of religion in India is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 25-28 of the Constitution of India. Modern India came into existence in 1947 and the Indian constitution's preamble was amended in 1976 to state that India is a secular state. Supreme Court of India ruled that India was already a secular state from the time it adopted its constitution, what actually was done through this amendment is to state explicitly what was earlier contained implicitly under article 25 to 28. Every citizen of India has a right to practice and promote their religion peacefully. However, there have been numerous incidents of religious intolerance that resulted in riots and violence, notably, the 1984 Anti-Sikh Massacre in Delhi, 1990 Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir, 1992-93 Bombay Riots in Mumbai, the 2008 Anti-Christian riots in Odisha. Some perpetrators of the 1984 Anti-Sikh Massacre in Delhi have not been brought to justice despite widespread condemnation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in India</span> Type of religion in India

Christianity is India's third-largest religion with about 26 million adherents, making up 2.3 percent of the population as of the 2011 census. The written records of St Thomas Christians mention that Christianity was introduced to the Indian subcontinent by Thomas the Apostle, who sailed to the Malabar region in 52 AD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naveen Patnaik</span> 14th Chief Minister of Odisha

Naveen Patnaik is an Indian politician and writer serving as the current and 15 Chief Minister of Odisha representing the Hinjili Assembly constituency since 2000. He is the longest-serving chief minister of Odisha and as of 2023, one of the longest-serving chief ministers of any Indian state, holding the post for over two decades, and only the second Indian chief Minister after Pawan Chamling to win five consecutive terms as Chief Minister of an Indian state. He is the first president of the Biju Janata Dal since 1997. He served as the Union Minister of Steel and Mines from 1998 to 2000 and a member of the Lok Sabha from Aska from 1997 to 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kandhamal district</span> District of Odisha in India

Kandhamal district also known as Phulbani district is a district in the state of Odisha, India. The District headquarters of the district is Phulbani. Kandhamal is famous for its local turmeric renowned as 'Kandhamal Haldi' which has earned the Geographical indication (GI) tag from Intellectual Property India, an organisation functioning under the auspices of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (India). It is a district full with natural beauties includes wild animals and birds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khonds</span> Tribal community in India

Khonds are an indigenous Adivasi tribal community in India. Traditionally hunter-gatherers, they are divided into the hill-dwelling Khonds and plain-dwelling Khonds for census purposes, but the Khonds themselves identify by their specific clans. Khonds usually hold large tracts of fertile land, but still practice hunting, gathering, and slash-and-burn agriculture in the forests as a symbol of their connection to, and as an assertion of their ownership of the forests wherein they dwell. Khonds speak the Kui language and write it in the Odia script.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Dayal</span>

John Dayal is an Indian human rights and Christian political activist. He is a member of the National Integration Council (NIC) of India, Secretary-General of the All India Christian Council and a past president of the All India Catholic Union. He has been outspoken in opposition to communal polarisation, bigotry and the spread of hatred between religious communities.

Religious violence in India includes acts of violence by followers of one religious group against followers and institutions of another religious group, often in the form of rioting. Religious violence in India has generally involved Hindus and Muslims.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Violence against Christians in India</span> Anti-Christian violence in India

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Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four of his disciples were murdered on 23 August 2008 in the State of Odisha in India. Saraswati was a Hindu monk and a Vishva Hindu Parishad leader. Seven Catholic Panos and one Maoist leader were convicted in the case.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in Odisha</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vishva Hindu Parishad</span> Hindu nationalist organisation

Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) is an Indian right-wing Hindu organisation based on Hindu nationalism. The VHP was founded in 1964 by M. S. Golwalkar and S. S. Apte in collaboration with Swami Chinmayananda. Its stated objective is "to organise, consolidate the Hindu society and to serve and protect the Hindu Dharma". It was established to construct and renovate Hindu temples, and deal with matters of cow slaughter and religious conversion. The VHP is a member of the Sangh Parivar group, the family of Hindu nationalist organisations led by the RSS.

Manoj Pradhan is an Indian politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party, who was convicted of murder in January 2010. He was elected from the G. Udayagiri assembly constituency from the state of Orissa. He has been convicted in two cases of murder during the Kandhamal riots of 2008, in which 38 people were killed and more than 25,000 Christians were displaced. During the swearing-in of the state assembly, Pradhan was in jail but was given 15 days bail so he could participate.

Sabyasachi Panda is a Naxalite-Maoist leader from India. He was wanted by the state police of several states in India for his involvement in criminal activities. He came into international news in 2012, for his alleged engineering of the kidnapping of two Italians nationals. He is also alleged to have involved and wanted in more than 50 criminal cases, including the murder of Swami Laxamananda Saraswati and four of his aides in Kandhamal district in 2008 that had triggered communal violence in the region. He was expelled by the CPI(Maoist) and then he floated a new party called the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist-Maoist). He was also wanted in the abduction case of two Italian tourists, who were released later in March 2012. On 18 July 2014 Odisha Police raided a Maoist hideout in Ganjam district on the basis of intelligence inputs and arrested Sabyasachi Panda from Berhampur. 45-year-old Sabyasachi Panda carried a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Kandhamal violence</span> Anti-Christian violence in Orissa

The 2008 Kandhamal violence refers to widespread violence against Christians purportedly incited by Hindutva organisations in the Kandhamal district of Orissa, India, in August 2008 after the murder of the Hindu monk Lakshmanananda Saraswati. According to government reports the violence resulted in at least 39 Christians killed and 3906 Christian houses completely destroyed. Reports state, more than 395 churches were razed or burnt down, over 5,600 – 6,500 houses plundered or burnt down, over 600 villages ransacked and more than 60,000 – 75,000 people left homeless. Other reports put the death toll at nearly 100 and suggested more than 40 women were sexually assaulted. Unofficial reports placed the number of those killed to more than 500. Many Christian families were burnt alive. Thousands of Christians were forced to convert to Hinduism under threat of violence. Many Hindu families were also assaulted in some places because they supported the Indian National Congress (INC) party. This violence was led by the Bajrang Dal, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the VHP.

The Pano are a Scheduled caste community of Odisha, as well as in Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand officially. They speak Odia.

The 1998 attacks on Christians in southeastern Gujarat refers to the wave of attacks against Christians mostly around the Dangs District of Southeastern Gujarat from late 1997 to early 1999. The attacks reportedly started at the end of 1997 before peaking during the Christmas of 1998 after the anti-Christian rallies in the Dangs District by the Hindu Jagaran Manch. The attacks included assaults on and killings of Christians, attacks against Christian schools, institutions and shops, damages, demolition and burning down of Prayer Halls and Churches mainly by members of the Bhartiya Janata Party, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagran Manch.

The 2007 Christmas violence in Kandhamal violence refers to the violence that occurred during the Christmas of 2007 between the groups led by Sangh Parivar together with the Sangh-affiliated Kui Samaj and the Christians in the Kandhamal district of Odisha.

The 2008 Kandhamal nun gang rape case refers to the gang-rape of a 28-year-old nun during the 2008 Kandhamal violence. The incident received media attention during the riots.

References

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  2. ↑ "Panel gives report on Kandhamal riots - India News - IBNLive". Ibnlive.in.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  3. ↑ "fresh samples" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  4. ↑ "Orissa tribal community accuses state government of bias - Thaindian News". Thaindian.com. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "Why Swami Laxmanananda was killed". Rediff.com. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  6. ↑ Archived 10 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "Is 'juggernaut' derived from Lord Jagannath?". Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ↑ A Narrative of the Mission to Orissa: (the Site of the Temple of Jugurnath): Supported by the New Connexion of General Baptists in England By Amos Sutton, Published by David Marks for the Free-will Baptist Connexion, 1833
  9. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  11. ↑ [ dead link ]
  12. ↑ "Caste, tribe, conversion make Orissa district volatile".
  13. ↑ Sengupta, Somini (13 October 2008). "Hindu Threat to Christians: Convert or Flee". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
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  15. ↑ "Conversion debate". Flonnet.com. Retrieved 18 September 2008.[ dead link ]
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  17. ↑ Basic Data Sheet District Kandhamal (21), Orissa (21) Census of India 2001
  18. ↑ "Indian minister in Orissa visit". BBC News. 2 January 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
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  22. ↑ "The Staines case verdict". Frontline. 10 October 2003. Archived from the original on 1 September 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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  24. ↑ "Missionary 'killer' arrested in India". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  25. ↑ "Thousands mourn missionary's death". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
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  27. ↑ "Tehelka - India's Independent Weekly News Magazine". Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014. Tehelka magazine Vol 5, Issue 36, Dated Sept 13, 2008
  28. ↑ Volume 16 – Issue 8, 10 – 23 Apr 1999, India’s National Magazine from the publishers of The Hindu
  29. ↑ "Another attack in Orissa". www.frontline.in. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
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  31. ↑ "Report of the NCM visit to Orissa, 6–8 January 2008" (PDF). NCM. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
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  33. ↑ "Kandhamal violence was due to localised factor".
  34. ↑ "Slain vhp man was conversion king". Indianexpress. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
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  39. ↑ "Vandals in Orissa". Asian Age. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
  40. ↑ "Sunday services held amid tight security in Orissa". 30 December 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  41. ↑ "3,706 acquitted in Kandhamal riots". Orissa Post. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  42. ↑ "India: Stop Hindu-Christian Violence in Orissa". Human Rights Watch. 29 December 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  43. ↑ Chatterji, Angana (January 2008). "Kandhamal: Hindutva's terror- Charting the history of sangh parivar violence in Orissa". Communalism Combat . Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  44. ↑ "BJP MLA convicted in Kandhamal riots case". The Hindu. 9 September 2010. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  45. 1 2 "It's still religion, stupid". Indian Express. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  46. ↑ "In photos: Damaged churches, broken homes are the lingering scars of the 2008 Kandhamal riots". Scroll.in. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  47. 1 2 "Plea in SC for SIT probe into Kandhamal riots". Orissa Post. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  48. ↑ "Orissa priest injured in communal violence dies". NDTV.com. 29 October 2008. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
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  50. ↑ "Christmas brings no cheer for them". The Hindu . 8 December 2008. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  51. ↑ "We killed Swami Laxmananda: Maoist leader". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  52. ↑ "Maoist leader claims they killed Swami". Business Standard India. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  53. ↑ "Maoists killed Lakshmanananda, say Orissa Police". The Hindu . Chennai, India. 17 October 2008. Archived from the original on 20 October 2008.
  54. ↑ "Christian killed in Orissa: the second in a month, the sixth in a year". Agenzia Fides. 13 March 2012. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  55. ↑ "Orissa, a Christian beheaded for his faith". Asianews. 20 February 2019. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
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