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Christians in India released on bail after languishing in prison for over a decade on false charges
by Jordan Hilger, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - A group of Indian Christians who suffered in prison for 11 years under false charges were finally released on bail, as advocates claimed they had been scapegoated by Hindu nationalists.
Buddhadev Nayak, Bhaskar Sunamajhi, Durjo Sunamajhi, Sanatan Badamajhi and Munda Badamajhi were charged with criminal conspiracy and murder in 2008 in the death of Hindu nationalist leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, even though Maoist revolutionaries had already taken credit.
Following the death, Pravin Togadia, another nationalist, marched with the body of his fallen comrade for 100 miles and claimed a Christian conspiracy had been behind the murder, leading to a wave of anti-Christian reprisals that killed 120 believers, destroyed 6,000 of their homes, and displaced 55,000 more.
The Christians remain in prison and await acquittal from India's highest court, which process is still pending.