Indian Justice Party demands rehabilitation to the Kandhamal riots victims. Orissa government should allow the NGOs and other agencies to do relief

Bubaneshwar January 15, 2008

The representatives of the Indian Justice Party (IJP) toured in the District of Kandhamal to visit the Relief Camps and to offer solace to the victimes of communal violence.

The team of the IJP was shocked to see the horrendous nature of the crimes committed on the innocent tribals.  Many victims that met the team testified about the brutalities committed by the Sangh Parivar elements and how the police just kept watching them and helping in their attacks of the Christians, Institutions and Churches.

The relief operations need to move faster.  Just before the day of the opposition leaders's arrival proper tents were erected in Barkhama camp. There is a lot of room for NGOs, Christian, Hindu Charitable organisations to do relief and rehabilitation and reconstruction work for the victims.  The Government should invite NGO's to do their work and rebuild the District.

So many stories the team had encountered.  A man aged 45 years said, that an axe was kept on his neck and he was asked to say Jai shri Ram and reconvert if he wants to live.  But this man who just became a Christian 10 months back said that you could kill me but I will not reconvert to Hinduism and I will stay as Christian and die as Christian.  Then the rioters left him and burnt down his house and all his possessions and he had flee to the forest and spend three nights there before returning back.

In the Relief Camp in Barkhama a tribal lady shared how she and her family along with small children were chased into the forests.  The uneducated lady felt very sad that the rioters not only burnt all her belongings but her Bible also which she respects and adores very dearly. She continued to narrate the horror of living in the forests and how they fed the little children with the beaten rice that they carried with them and that the adults just starved and stayed in the cold of the forest.

The team also met two Christians whose heads were tonsured and they were made to offer puja to the Hindu gods and were beaten black and blue for resisting to do that.

The Indian Justice Party demands that the relief should reach to all the victims immediately.  It also demands the Orissa Government to invite the NGOs to do their part in reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Mrs. Sulochana Bagh President
Indian Justice Party - Orissa State
9938158429