Accused Christians remain in jail for years
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
ORISSA, INDIA (Worthy News)– Seven Christians who were accused of killing Hindu nationalist leader Laxmanananda Saraswati back in 2008 remain imprisoned while thousands of their fellow believers still live in fear of further reprisals resulting from his political assassination, according to International Christian Concern.
The murder of Saraswati sparked widespread violence against all Christians living in Orissa. The violence was ignited by Hindu nationalists who spread rumors that the Christians were to blame for Saraswati’s death despite claims by Maoists rebels that they had assassinated him.
As a result, more than 5,000 Christian homes were looted and razed, leaving 54,000 refugees who lost identity papers and title deeds necessary for their rights as an oppressed minority living within an unsympathetic Hindu majority.
Although homes have been rebuilt, Christians in villages like Beticola still live in fear because they were told not to return unless they converted to Hinduism.
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