Religious violence in Odisha
In the journal, Odoric wrote in detail about a huge chariot containing idols of Hindu deities from the grand and famous Jagannath temple which is taken out annually in a procession known as the rath yatra.
Odoric's account of the ceremony spread throughout Europe and by the 19th century the word juggernaut began to be associated with an unstoppable force of such proportions that is capable of destroying everything in its path.
[9][10] Christian missions have been active in Odisha among the tribals and backward Hindu castes from the early years of the twentieth century.
Right-wing Hindus have alleged that the increase in the number of Christians in Odisha has been a result of an exploitation of illiteracy and impoverishment by the missionaries in contravention of the law, instead of free will.
[10][14] Hindus claim the Christian missionaries were converting poor tribal people by feeding them beef, which is taboo in Hinduism.
Hindus have further alleged that the increase in the number of Christians in Odisha has been a result of exploitation of illiteracy and impoverishment by the missionaries.
On 22 September 2003 a court appointed by the Central Bureau of Investigation sentenced Dara Singh to death and 12 others to life imprisonment for the murders.
The US-based Human Rights Watch accused the then Indian Government of failing to prevent violence against Christians, and of exploiting sectarian tensions for political ends.
[24] Then-Prime Minister of India, Atal Behari Vajpayee, a leader of BJP, condemned the "ghastly attack" and called for swift action to catch the killers.
Published reports stated that church leaders alleged the attacks were carried out at the behest of hardline Hindu organisations.
The convicted killer Dara Singh was treated as a hero by hardline Hindus and reportedly protected by some villagers.
On 16 March 1999 a Hindu mob of 5,000 attacked Ranalai (PIN – 761 017) in Gajapati District and set houses on fire[27][28][29] and engaged in looting.
In December 2007, Christians had installed a Christmas arch across the road in the village of Brahmanigaon, Kandhamal district, having first received a permit from the police and sub-collector to do so.
The protesters argued that the arch along with a tent set up was erected on the very site used by the Hindus to celebrate the Durga Puja festival in October.
[30][31] The violence escalated after news spread about Hindu monk Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati being attacked by a Christian fundamentalist mob en route to the spot of the confrontation.
[32] Swami supporters, however, claimed that Christians at Brahmanigoan village wanted to install a Christmas gate in front of a Hindu temple.
[37][38] Concerned with rising violence, after the assault on Saraswati, some Dalit Christian leaders lodged a complaint with the Police for protection.
[44] It is estimated that more than 395 churches, 5600 homes and 13 educational institutes were set on fire, demolished or vandalized during the attacks and more than 90 killed (largely Christians) and 18,000 injured and 54,000 displaced.
