The charred heap in front of the house includes burnt clothes, rupee notes, furniture, TV set and a scooter. “The policemen stood right there along the mob and watched the entire scene,” said Pushpalata.

“Today, we are going door to door in the neighbourhood begging for shelter only to be refused because we are Christians.”

“I served the Orissa police force loyally for years,” said her father. “And now this is what I get in return. I saw policemen in uniform and arms standing near my house and watching people set it on fire. Till now, no police official or government men has come to us and ask about our plight,” said John.

Next door to the Nayeks is a Christian orphanage where 15 children are huddled together in the back room, the only one spared by the mob. “After the Nayek’s house they came to ours. I just ran away with the children. Now we have no food, no gas and are living under fear. These children are my responsibility. I only have some rice left to last a couple of days more. With the curfew on and out of fear, I cannot even go out,” said Haseena Mishra, the widow who runs the orphanage.

The day was a nightmare for 11-year-old Hemant Kumar Nayek in the orphanage. “There were so many people shouting outside. Our Ma’am told us to pray and we held each other’s hands. When they came in, we ran away,” said Hemant.

... contd.