Christian tribals fear attack, seek security

BHUBANESWAR, OCT 18: Christian tribals of Ranalai village of Gajapati district have sought police protection from Chief Secretary Sudhans...

BHUBANESWAR, OCT 18: Christian tribals of Ranalai village of Gajapati district have sought police protection from Chief Secretary Sudhansu Bhusan Mishra fearing attack from the Hindu tribals of the village. They have also urged him to bring peace in the village and reduce tension between both the tribal communities prevailing in the area since March 16 last following torching of a local Church.

In a memorandum to the chief secretary which was released to the press, the Christian tribals said that the police have released the miscreants on bail who had torched their houses and the Church. They alleged that the police made the provisions less stringent under which the culprits were booked and let them free on bail. They further alleged that the culprits were taken in a procession by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rastriya Swamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers after the miscreants were released and a meeting was held in support of them.

The Christian tribals also said that the miscreants belonging to the Hinducommunity have since have indulged in attacks on them while the local police have kept away or connived with the miscreants.

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They informed Mishra that the miscreants had attacked them during the last Lok Sabha elections. A report in this regard has been submitted by the Ranalai villagers to Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang.

RSS campaign spews hatred: CPM

NEW DELHI: CPI-M on Monday accused the RSS and its allied outfits of "orchestrating" an anti-Christian campaign before the forthcoming visit of Pope John Paul and demanded immediate steps to curb such propaganda.

"The visit of Pope John Paul to New Delhi in the first week of November is being used as a pretext for a countrywide anti-Christian campaign orchestrated by the RSS and its allied outfits," CPI-M polit bureau said in a statement.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has organised a yatra from Goa which would reach Delhi on the eve of the Pope’s visit, CPM said.

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