The Voice of the Martyrs Canada :: Update: More homes burned; closure of relief camps planned in Orissa :: Providing Information and Support for Persecuted Christians

Language:
English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people; there are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language.

Religion:
Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, Other 1.8% (2001)

Government Type:
Federal Republic

Capital:
New Delhi

Population Below Poverty Line:
25% (2007 est.)

Country Reports

Update: More homes burned; closure of relief camps planned in Orissa

October 22, 2008

On the evening of October 19, Hindu militants burned several homes belonging to Christians in Kandhamal district, Orissa -- a region plagued by widespread anti-Christian violence since Maoists killed a Hindu leader in late August (see links on the India Country Report for more information). Despite the government's claim that the state is "returning to normal," reports of militants burning homes, raiding hospitals and stealing animals belonging to Christians continue.

Health conditions remain extremely poor in the overcrowded relief camps, and some who have sought refuge have been sent away with only a plastic tent and a ten-day food supply. Reports that authorities may close the camps have caused further concern for Christians who are unable to return to their homes.