India update 10-23-08

Thu, 23/10/2008 - 11:20am Hindu group behind Malegaon, Modasa blasts: Cops
Hindu group behind Malegaon, Modasa blasts: CopsMumbai, October 22 The Maharashtra police are said to have cracked the September 29 bomb blasts in Malegaon and Modasa town in neighbouring Gujarat saying these were allegedly carried out by the Hindu Jagran Manch, an Indore-based Hindu extremist group known to have links to the BJP’s student wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The key suspects are being questioned, top Maharashtra Police sources have told The Indian Express.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, North India
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Thu, 23/10/2008 - 10:16am RSS flays State for 'inept' handling of Kandhamal situation
October 23, 2008BHUBANESWAR: Rastritya Swayamsevak Sangha (RSS) on Wednesday (22-10-08) criticised Orissa government for its inept handling of the situation following the violence that rocked Kandhamal district.Akhila Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal (ABKM), the highest decision making body of RSS, passed a resolution saying both the Centre and the State government played 'patrician and dubious role' in handling the situation.
posted in: Current Issue, , East India
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Thu, 23/10/2008 - 9:30am Upper house of Parliament adjourns after uproar over attack on Christians in Orissa
New Delhi, Oct 22 - Opposition BJP and ruling Congress members today clashed in the Rajya Sabha over the issue of attack on Christians in Orissa, leading to abrupt adjournment of the House.
posted in: Current Issue, , East India
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Wed, 22/10/2008 - 6:25pm Little Flower Church Tikamgarh ,Madhya Pradesh set on fire-GCIC demands action
Bhopal:22nd Oct,08- Some unidentified miscreants set fire a Catholic Church in Tikamgarh district in Madhya Pradesh today.171 violent incidents of attacks took place on church personnal, the institutions and worship places of the community which included violent attacks on community members as well in the state during the tenure of the present governmentThe incident came notice when the Sisters of Secret Heart nuns working in the parish went to the Church at 5.15 (22nd Oct)in the morning to open the Church they found smoke billowing out of it and immediately informed Fr. Siju John , the Assistant Parish priest of Little Flower Church, called up the police. They all set the fire off. Rev.says , "it looks that they must have set the Church in fire in the early morning".
They have poured kerosene or some other inflammable substance to set the door of the Church to fire. The carpet near to the Church also got fire and burnt partially. However, before it spreads to other parts of the Church it was put off . A delegation lead by Fr. Siji called on the district collector. An FIR has been lodged with the police.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, Central India
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Wed, 22/10/2008 - 4:49pm Betikola church files Defamation suit in Orissa
Orissa-
Executive Body members of the Betikola Church Council filed a Defamation suit for Rs.50 crore against Ashok Sahu, President of Hindu Jagran Samukhya(allies of VHP) in the Sr.Divisional Civil Judge at Cuttack and also in S.D.J.M. Court Court of of Bhubaneswar .The executive members consist of Mr. Bikram Pradhan, Ajit Kumar Pradhan, Helina Mallick, Kamalini Nayak, Kumudini Digal, Sulata Nayak and Mahadeb. The libel suit in its prayer, pleaded that Mr. Ashok Sahu's has caused "irreparable damage to the image of the Church and its Council, It also said that the fabricated document has lowered the prestige and reputation of the Council."In a related development.during the protest rally here on Tuesday, VHP State General Secretary, Mr Gouri Prasad Rath, also threatened to file defamation against some Christian leaders for making false allegations and tarnishing the image of Orissa and India in the World. Mr Gouri Prasad Rath, VHP State General Secretary ,reacting to Nun’s rape case said that "No such incident has actually happened"
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
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Wed, 22/10/2008 - 2:02pm Supreme Court of India rejects plea for CBI inquiry into rape of nun in Orissa
New Delhi, Oct 22 - The Supreme Court today declined to hand over to CBI the investigation into the alleged rape of a nun during the on-going communal violence in Orissa."At this stage we do not think that handing over the investigation into the case from the state police to the CBI is in the interest of the victim as well as in the interest of justice. We think that the victim will cooperate with the state police," a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices P Sathasivam and P M Panchal rejected the petition filed by Archbishop Raphel Cheenath of Cuttack seeking a CBI inquiry into the rape and humiliation of a Christian Nun.