Some of the destruction in Orissa Photos from GCIC

Even though a Maoist group claimed responsibility on September 1 for the August 23 death of Hindu leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his followers, Hindu militant groups have continued to attack Christians in Orissa, India, accusing them of the murder. At least 36 people (many of them Christians) have been killed, hundreds of homes and churches have been destroyed, and thousands of Christians are reportedly hiding in jungles. Thousands of other Christians have fled to state government relief centres. There are reports of Hindus raiding these centres and Christian villages, threatening the Christians with violence if they do not convert to Hinduism immediately.

According to the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), on September 1 a church and 82 houses were burned in Mandasara, Kandhamal district and two Christians were killed. The Orissa Missionary Movement Church in Jeypore, Koraput district was also burned down, and a Blessing Youth Mission pastor was beaten up and his bike burned.

Please continue to uphold the believers in Orissa in prayer. Pray that, in their sufferings, they will draw near to the Lord, trusting Him to meet their needs (2 Cor. 1:3-5). Pray for comfort for those who have lost loved ones.

For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to the India Country Report.