Kandha Janajati Surakhya Manch - Kandhmal case

          The recent spurt of violence has its immediate cause in the unprovoked and preplanned attack on Swami Laxananada Saraswati on the 24th December 2007. Nevertheless, before that the situation in the whole of Kandhamal district was surcharged with contempt against the converted 'Pana' Christians, who are guided by the Missionary Churches. Kandhamal District is overwhelmingly dominated by the tribal inhabitations who speak Kui dialect. There were small pockets of 'Pana' people who are scheduled castes but their percentage in 1950 census was very negligible as compared to that of the Kandha STs. The Missionary Churches had selected the district from British days for full conversion of its population. The Kandha tribals are characteristically very proud of their Hindu traditions and culture, though poor and uneducated. On the other hand, the 'Pana' SCc were vulnerable to the allurement of money, English education, employment assurance, foreign tours, etc. by the Missionaries, a section of whom got converted to Christianity. The Church using the converted Christians like Radhakanta Nayak, IAS (Retd.), John Nayak, IPS (Retd.), Isaac Behera, IAS and many others started grabbing the cultivable land belonging to the Kandha families and in the name of land disputes convert them under duress. Large number of 'Pana' SCs also started coming from adjacent districts and got settled in Kandhamal with an ulterior motive to out number the reticent Kandha tribals. Now since 2002, there has been a concerted effort to notify the 'Pana' caste capable of speaking Kui dialect, including those converted to Christianity as Scheduled Tribe under Article 342 of the Constitution by manipulating a Presidential notification in this regard. This move would greatly harm the socio-economic and political interests of the genuine tribal population of the State as a whole.

          In 1983, the first Church came into existence in Katingia village. Initially the Church distributes medicines, clothes, food articles, alcohol drinks and then money to the poor and uneducated villagers. Later they demolish their place of worship called 'Dharani Penu'. One fine morning they are all told that they have all become Christians. Thatched houses are built on government land/ village land and named as churches. The Christian Missionaries are systematically grabbing the lands belonging to the local Kandha tribe in spite of High Court orders to the contrary. Until date, 22 acres in Barakhoma, 7 acres in Kelapada, 5 acres in Gresinga under Udayagiri Block, besides many in other parts of the district, are under illegal possession of the Church and the Christians, which actually belong to the Tribes.  Since 1983, a large population has been converted to Christianity taking advantage of their illiteracy, extreme poverty, deprivation of medical facility and basics like communication, drinking water etc. In order to curb conversion by bribery, allurements, fraud and cheating the State Legislature has enacted a law in 1967. Not a single conversion has the support of the provisions of the said Act. Now and then, the Church priests have played with the simplicity and innocence of the tribal population to win over the tribals for conversion. The Missionaries operate also through many NGOs as front organisations. The World Vision is chief among those.  Many schools with financial aid from the government operate where tribal children are compelled to read Bible. Preferential treatment on basis of religion is meted in the hostels and schools in matters of tuition fees. Ranganatha Mishra Committee report had suggested the extension of reservation facilities even to the converted Christians that sparked spontaneous reaction among the scheduled tribes in the district. False Caste / Tribe certificates were issued to the converted Christians for getting government employment from the reservation quota, which was protested, by the genuine SCs and STs. Therefore, the simmering discontent against conversion, land grabbing by the Churches and contempt against the conspiracy to extend reservation facility to the undeserving converted Christians under tutelage of converted 'Pana's like Radhakanta Nayak had already prepared the stage for the volcano to erupt which was ignited by the developments in Brahmanigaon on the eve of Christmas. 

          The local Church had decided this year, to celebrate the Christmas on the same altar where Hindus celebrate Durgapuja in Brahmanigaon. There was large scale protest and reaction among the Hindu villagers and the local Superintendent of Police interefered to assuage the tension and suggested to build a separate structure for X-mass celebration maintaining reasonable distance from the Puja mandap. In reaction, on 23 December 2007, the converted Christians set one Hotel and three shops to fire at Brahmanigaon in the very presence of the SP and the District Magistrate. The same morning, they started construction of their pandal on the plot which was protested by the Hindus. On 24 December Swamiji was on his way to Brahmanigaon, when at Darsingbadi a village with almost 100% converted Christians about 200 armed assailants attacked Swamiji.  The injured Swamiji along with his injured PSO and driver went to the nearest  Daringbadi PS seeking protection. By that time about 2000 supported of Swamiji had gathered near the PS. Soon after departure of the Swamiji for medical aid, the Police lathicharged the supporters of Swamiji at Daringbadi. This action of the Police was utterly uncalled for and highly provocative to the Kandha people.

          In order to protest against the conspiracy to reschedule the Kui speaking 'Pana' as scheduled tribe, there was a call for Bundh on 25 December for which the protestors had already started putting logs on the roads etc. from midnight in the area. Shri Lambodar Kanhar and party were attacked by the converted Christians helped by Police at Surudukumpa in the evening on 24 December 2007. There was lot of tension spreading like bonfire whole over the district. On 25 December 2007 at Jaleswarpada the Kui Sanskrutika Parishad had a prefixed meeting. But the Christians attacked the Kanyashrama and torched two dwelling houses. There was mass scale stoning on the peaceful protestors by the Christians who had gathered in the Church premises as preplanned. One Khageswar Mullick was lynched to death by the Christians by hitting with stones as he was left behind by the protestors.

          On 27 December, there was large scale arson on Hindu pockets in Brahmanigaon with the help of armed Maoists. In the carnage, the SP of Gajapati District and a constable were severely injured. The anti-riot CRPF personnel could arrest Maoists and seized more than 20 guns, AK – 47 Rifles and crude bombs from the arrested persons. One thing is at least proved that there was plan to commit violence on the eve of X-Mass with the direct collusion with the armed Maoists and provoke the tribals by attacking and killing the Swamijee. By putting, many Churches made of thatch and mud walls, unto fire, blame and defame India and the Hindus in the international circle. This will not only tarnish the secular image of India abroad but also help in attracting lots of fund from foreign countries. Finally, it would also benefit by terrorizing the tribals conversion among them as it is done in the North-East India.

Vishwa Sambad Kendra, Orissa
A-16,Kharavel nagar, Bhubaneswar