Hindu fundamentalists have attacked Christians in two different areas of the Indian state of Orissa over the past week, priests have told ucanews.com.
“We cannot even have prayers, gatherings and meals together. The attackers must be taken to task,” Father Alphonse Toppo, vicar general of Sambalpur diocese said.
Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur also condemned the attacks.
“Terrorizing people is unacceptable. The government must apply stringent measures.”
On June 9, a group of Hindu radicals beat three visiting Christian pastors following a ceremony in Deogarh district.
Biranchi Kispata and his wife, a recently converted tribal Christian couple, had organized the thanksgiving event to celebrate the recovery of their sick child.
But when police arrived on the scene, they detained the pastors. They were released after explaining the purpose of their visit.
The pastors were “not keen to file a report against the attackers,” Lamuel Pattnaik, one of the clergymen, told ucanews.com on June 11.
Biranchi and his wife also said that they would remain Christians and not file a case against the offenders as they have forgiven them.
In a second incident on June 7, Hindu fundamentalists attacked dalit Christian, Bhagat Bivar, who embraced Christianity four years ago, and burned his copies of bible.
Bivar lodged a complaint against five persons and police have arrested four of them
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