Targeted by angry mob, police watching, Christians flee after their houses burnt

For, they have visited home after home in their neighbourhood asking for shelter only to be refused because they are Christians.

Their house in the Amlapada area, right next to the District Collectorate, was ransacked and its belongings torched on the morning of August 25 by a procession mourning the death of Swami Lakshamananda Saraswati. The procession was escorted by police who, eyewitnesses said, looked the other way.

Several houses belonging to Christians were ransacked all along the procession route. The victims range from retired police officers to a retired Additional District Magistrate.

A number of orphanages in the town faced a similar fate. In more remote villages, the situation is worse — Christian families, including women and children, are leaving their villages and fleeing to adjacent hills and forests.

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.

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