India update 11-18-08

Tue, 18/11/2008 - 9:22am Govt. of Orissa Okays guidelines for riot damages
Compensation to shrine and churches range from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000. Orissa State government has finally prepared a guideline for giving compensation to churches and other shrines damaged during the communal violence in Kandhamal district after the visit of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) as per the complaint lodged with the conversion by GCIC.
According to the guideline, which got the finishing touches, shrines would be given compensation ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 2,00,000 depending on the degree of damage.
The district administration has been asked to complete the assistance process by November 25th. For the fully and partly damaged big churches and prayer halls, the assistance amount would be Rs. 2,00,000 and Rs. 1,00,000 respectively.
posted in: Current Issue, , East India
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Tue, 18/11/2008 - 9:09am Central team takes stock, to visit Kandhamal today
Central team on Kandhamal, led by Union Agriculture Minister Sri. Sharath Pawar, wanted to know about the security provided to VHP leader swami Laxmananda Saraswati who was killed in Jalespata Ashram on 23rd August 2008.
The team which attended a high level meeting at the Orissa Secretariat to assist the progress in reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes in the riot hit Kandhamal district also wanted to be apprised about the nun rape case.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
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Mon, 17/11/2008 - 4:54pm Pastor jailed in Bangalore, Karnataka
R.S.S & V.H.P on 16th November disrupt Christian worship, attack pastor and drag him to police station and made false complaint of forcible conversion against him in at Vangasandra on Hosur Road, Bangalore, Karnataka.
Around 11.00 a.m., as Worship was going on Hindu radicals entered the house-church of Pastor Sujnanamm aged 34yrs of Bhirian Baptist Bible College, beat him up in front of the Believers. The radicals abuse the believers and thrashed another believer who tried to come to the aid of Pastor Sujnanamm
The fundamentalists dragged the pastor to the Madivala Police Station and charged him with forceful conversion. The police filed an FIR under section 295A and 506 against the pastor & Dr. Advin S. Chilly President of the Bhirian Baptist Bible College. The pastor was subsequently sent to the Bangalore Center jail.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, South India
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Mon, 17/11/2008 - 8:39am Kandhamal Christian refugees face inclement weather
BERHAMPUR: Winter chill stepped into south Orissa along with the drizzle caused by the low pressure in Bay of Bengal. The life in the refugee camps is miserable.
There was a sudden fall of temperature in the city accompanied by continuous drizzle since Saturday evening. It disrupted day to day life in the city. The markets at this trading centre remained deserted. The waves of the sea seemed dangerous at Gopalpur beach resort. The traditional fishermen were restrained from entering the sea. But the sudden entry of winter chill brought in some hopes for sell of winter garments in the city. The Tibetan woollen market managed to get a good amount of customers. People who had packed up their rain coats were compelled to take them out as the chilly wind was more harsh than the rain.
Sky remained overcast in Kandhamal district. Which however warmed up the atmosphere slightly. The temperature had started to fall in this area since past one week. It is felt a shower due to the recent low pressure may lead to a chilly winter in the district, said S.Patro of Phulbani.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
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Sun, 16/11/2008 - 11:57am " ORISSA BANDH ON THE DECEMBER 25TH, 2008 " VHP threatens
BubhaneswarThe President of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Samiti Dr. Ratnakar Chaini on 15th November , notice to Orissa Govt.that, to arrest the murderers who killed their Swamiji otherwise there shall be " ORISSA BANDH ON THE DECEMBER 25TH, 2008 " which he declared , nobody can stop .Sangh parivar delared that Hindus are in majority. They also demanded to release the Hindu leaders arrested for in connection with the murder of christians and rioting in Kandhamal immediately. They also shouted against Christians , demanded,cow slaughter and cattle trading to be completely stopped
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India
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Sun, 16/11/2008 - 11:40am Mumbai VHP activists strip Pastor and lock up worshippers
MumbaiNearly 20 VHP activists on Nov 15th, attack Church in Bhayander, Mumbai around 12.30 PM, stripped the pastor and thrashed him after accusing him of converting people.
According to the police, eight men have been arrested for the attack on the prayer hall which belongs to the Church of God (from the Pentecostal Church). Incidentally, the prayer hall is adjacent to the Navghar police station at Bhayander, a bustling township just outside the city limits. The attackers, who also damaged the prayer hall and confined 20 persons attending the prayer meeting.
Raj Jaiswal (30), an eyewitnesses, told that around 20 people, including 15 women, were in the prayer when someone knocked at the door. "We opened it presuming that more people may have come for the prayer," he said.
A mob of about 20 rushed in, shouting slogans such as, 'Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra', said Jaiswal, a real estate broker who attended the prayer meeting. "They claimed to be from the VHP and said they had information that conversions were happening here. They hurled fithy abuses at us and beat us up," said Jaiswal.The mob stripped pastor Philip Fernandes and thrashed him "for trying to convert people". Jaiswal said that he then phoned a TV channel for help.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, West India
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