A Christian body in India has called for an investigation after 54 defendants on October 29 became the latest in a long line to be acquitted in connection with the 2007–2008 anti-Christian violence in Orissa state.
Sajan George, President of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), accused prosecutors of having a: ‘hidden agenda… to weaken the cases against arsonists and looters in [the] Kandhamal riot’.
The 54 were accused of setting fire to a church and 14 houses during the attacks by Hindu extremists against Christian communities on Christmas Day 2007. They were cleared by a court on the grounds of ‘lack of evidence’.
Anti-Christian violence
The attacks were a precursor to sustained anti-Christian violence in the area between August and October 2008, triggered by the murder of a militant Hindu leader. Around 90 Christians were killed and thousands more injured.
Very few of the perpetrators have been brought to justice yet, last month, seven Christians were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of the Hindu leader that sparked the attacks against their community.
A Maoist group had claimed responsibility for the murder, and there appeared to be no evidence against the Christians.
