On Christmas Eve, Christians attacked in eastern India

Published: 2007-12-24

BHUBANESWAR, India (CNS) -- Suspected Hindu fanatics in the eastern Indian state of Orissa have attacked Christians preparing for Christmas, injuring some and raising tension. On Dec. 24, about 500 men attacked a tent displaying the Nativity scene that Christians of various denominations erected in Bamunigam, a small town about 200 miles southwest of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. Sister Prasan Sualsingh told UCA News Catholics, an Asian church news agency, that Baptists and Pentecostals in the town decided to celebrate Christmas jointly in "a grand way." District authorities had promised to provide police protection for the tent and the Christmas program in view of prevailing anti-Christian sentiments in the state, the nun said, but police were not present during the attack. The local parish had permission from district authorities and the police to set up a Nativity scene and an illuminated tent in a public place to help large crowds attend the Christmas program. Praful Nayak, an eyewitness, told UCA News some of the attackers opened fire at the makeshift tent. They also attacked the Christians with swords and wooden sticks and destroyed the rented public address system, causing damage estimated at 200,000 rupees (US$5,100), the witness said.

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