Kandhamal victims meet UN representative
The members briefed the UN official about how their relatives were killed by Hindu fundamentalists.
By Ajay Kumar Singh
New Delhi:

A seven-member delegation from Orissa yesterday met a special rapporteur of the United Nations (UN) and apprised him of the injustices meted out to them during the 2008 anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal district.The members briefed Christof Heyns, special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, about how their relatives were killed by Hindu fundamentalists and the police administration did not do anything to prevent such attacks.  read more »

Towards Peace at Minia
House of Pastor Pabitra Mohan Kota was attacked on 25th Jan. At complaint, police acted promptly and the attacker was taken into custody. He got bail after a week. Meantime, the women of the hamlet gathered and told the family of Kota, that in future, if anyone attacks, he need not inform the police, but inform the women group and they would settle matters peacefully. The same attacker abused Pastor Kota, last night, with filthy language. This time Pastor Kota preferred to women's group. They scolded the attacker.(BR. Markose)

A Fellow ship of persecuted christians was held at Jalna,
Bhubaneshwar . About 70 children/widows and suffering persons from Kandhamal and other affected areas attended a gathering on 2 and 3 Feb 2012 held at Janla under the auspicious of Global Council of Indian Christians(GCIC) . Dr Sajan K George, president of Global Council of Indian christians(GCIC) exhorted participants to forgive the people have wronged against, as our Lord commands us to do. Five widows have shared their struggle to carry on their lives in the face of
persecution and discrimination.  read more »

Kandhamal
Three Christian leaders were mysteriously murdered in the year 2011 and 2012 started with the second phase of elimination of Christian leaders with allegation of Maoists link. Somnath Pradhan(37),another Christian leader from Janabadi village of Daringbadi Block, Kandhamal was arrested on 09.01.2012 night for his alleged sympathy to maoists and lodged in Baliguda Jail.  read more »

BHUBANESWAR: A national people’s tribunal, which conducted public hearing on the infamous 2008 Kandhamal riots on Friday, said the criminal justice system had been rendered ineffective in protecting the victims, survivors and witnesses besides delivering justice and fixing accountability for crimes perpetrated on the minorities.  read more »

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A National People’s Tribunal (NPT) on Kandhamal was held in New Delhi
on 22-24 August 2010, organized by the National Solidarity Forum - a
countrywide solidarity platform of concerned persons from various
walks of life. The NPT aimed at assisting the victims and survivors of
the Kandhamal violence 2008 to seek justice, accountability and peace
and to restore the victim-survivors’ right to a dignified life. The
twelve-member jury of the NPT was headed by Justice A.P. Shah (retd.).
The Tribunal’s final report was released in Bhubaneswar on 2nd
December 2011. The report is based on the testimonies of 45 victims,
survivors and their representatives. Additionally, it incorporates and
draws upon the contents of studies, field surveys, research, fact-
finding reports and statements to the Tribunal that were presented by
15 experts.

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