India update 11-13-08

Thu, 13/11/2008 - 10:44am Believers arrested in Cox Town Bangalore
Believers arrested on 12th November 2008 evening at Jeevanahalli, Bangalore, Karnataka.
Chandrashekar (54), Sandhya (45) and Kamalamma (43) are resident of Benson Town and Banasvadi. They are members of Pavithra Agni Church, Cox Town, Bangalore. Chandrashekar's wife Dr. Leelavathy who is presently employed in Govt. of Karnataka holding higher post.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, South India
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Thu, 13/11/2008 - 9:59am Baptist church damaged in Kasauli- Himachal Pradesh
Kasauli, November 12A fire broke out in the Baptist church in tourist resort of Kasauli in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, damaging part of the British-time brick and wood building and expensive wooden furniture.
According to police sources, the fire broke out last night due to a short circuit near the metre and spread to the ceiling, door and other parts of the church situated near the local court complex.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, North India
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Thu, 13/11/2008 - 9:56am Report on Bajrang Dal's activities, Govt to states
Amidst demands for a ban on Bajrang Dal, the Union Home Ministry on Wednesday sought details of activities of the Hindutva organisation from all states.
posted in: Current Issue, Secular, North India
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Thu, 13/11/2008 - 9:29am Indian Government seeks deatils of Hindu radical organisations from states
New DelhiAmidst demands for a ban on Bajrang Dal,world Hindu council(VHP) the Union Home Ministry of India on Wednesday sought details of activities of the Hindutva organisation from all states.
In a letter to the state governments, the ministry has sought details of the action taken by them to check their activities, a Home Ministry official said.
Though there was no official word whether the Centre was contemplating a ban on the organisation, as demanded by some key ruling party allies, and international Human rights organisations sources said such inputs were required before declaring any organisation as outlawed.Central government was forced to take such a step on the basis of the involvement of Hindutva organistions and self styley gurus direct involvement with Hind terror network and serial attacks against christians in India.The civil society of India and broad voiced its concern in the inclusion of sonal shah ,a staunch world hindu council functionary in the transition team of president elect Barak Obama
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, North India
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Thu, 13/11/2008 - 7:36am NHRC team in Kandhamal in response to GCIC petition
BERHAMPUR: A team of the National Human Rights Commission reached Kandhamal district on Wednesday afternoon on the basis of petition by Global council of Indian christians(GCIC). The six-member team led by Superintendent of Police Mukesh Singh would be in the district till Nov 18 to visit communal violence hit areas of the district. It would take note of the violence, its victims and efforts of peace in these areas.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
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Wed, 12/11/2008 - 4:24pm NHRC of India investigates 116 killings of Christians in Orissa,attacks in Karnataka
New DelhiNational Human Rights Commission (NHRC) deputed six separate teams to investigate attacks against Christians in Karnataka and murders and gross violation of rights in Orissa. On 11th November 2008, two teams started a week-long investigation in Karnataka, one based in Bangalore and other based in Mangalore. The Bangalore-based team spent a better part of a day meeting the representatives of the Global Council of Indian Christians, as the NHRC was alerted by GCIC about the gross violation of the code of conduct of some of the lower level police officers and field officers against civilians in Karnataka. The NHRC investigation is spread over eight days. The Orissa investigations of the 116 plus Christian martyrdoms will commence from 12th November.
At the meeting with NHRC, GCIC unravelled the veil covering the systemic oppression against Christians in Karnataka and Orissa. Contrary to the Yeddyurappa government's promise of prompt action against the groups involved in attack against Christians in Karnataka, and the Orissa administration's claim that people from the relief camps in Kandhamal had started returning to their respective villages, GCIC was able to establish, with documentary evidence, 96 major attacks against Christians in Karnataka and over 80 martyrdoms of Christians for their faith in Orissa, along with grave violations of human rights.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India