(Orissa), August 27: For 21-year-old Pushpalata Digal, a first-year Sociology Master’s student at Phulbani Government College, for her sisters, for her brother and her father John Nayek, a retired Orissa police havildar, life since Monday has been a trauma. Their wait today is for a relief camp. For, they have visited home after home in their neighbourhood asking for shelter only to be refused because they are Christians. Their house in the Amlapada area, right next to the District Collectorate, was ransacked and its belongings torched on the morning of August 25 by a procession mourning the death of Swami Lakshamananda Saraswati. The procession was escorted by police who, eyewitnesses said, looked the other way. Several houses belonging to Christians were ransacked all along the procession route. The victims range from retired police officers to a retired Additional District Magistrate.
A number of orphanages in the town faced a similar fate. In more remote villages, the situation is worse — Christian families, including women and children, are leaving their villages and fleeing to adjacent hills and forests. “The only clothes my two sisters and I have are what we are wearing,” says Pushpalata, in tears. “There’s nothing else left in or of our house. It was around 8 am on Monday when a procession of Swamiji’s followers was passing by. Suddenly, around 100 men, armed with iron rods and lathis, attacked or house and tried to break in. My brother Moses, my sister Taruni and I stood with our backs to the door but we failed to stop them barge in. We somehow escapes through our back door.” The charred heap in front of the house includes burnt clothes, rupee notes, furniture, TV set and a scooter. “The policemen stood right there along the mob and watched the entire scene,” said Pushpalata. “Today, we are going door to door in the neighbourhood begging for shelter only to be refused because we are Christians.” “I served the Orissa police force loyally for years,” said her father. “And now this is what I get in return. I saw policemen in uniform and arms standing near my house and watching people set it on fire. Till now, no police official or government men has come to us and ask about our plight,” said John.
Next door to the Nayeks is a Christian orphanage where 15 children are huddled together in the back room, the only one spared by the mob. “After the Nayek’s house they came to ours. I just ran away with the children. Now we have no food, no gas and are living under fear. These children are my responsibility. I only have some rice left to last a couple of days more. With the curfew on and out of fear, I cannot even go out,” said Haseena Mishra, the widow who runs the orphanage.
The day was a nightmare for 11-year-old Hemant Kumar Nayek in the orphanage. “There were so many people shouting outside. Our Ma’am told us to pray and we held each other’s hands. When they came in, we ran away,” said Hemant. “I do not know. Ma’am said they were bad people,” said Hemant, when asked who were the outsiders. The family of 80-year-old Prafulla Nayek, former ADM of Kandamal, shared the same fate. His house was attacked and ransacked. “I called the police for help but no one responded. The mob were able to ransack the front portion of the house. What can I say?” said Prafulla Nayek. Even now, there is no sign of police or security at the homes of the victims. More serious is the situation in rural areas, including Baliguda, Chakapada, Barakhamba, K Nuagan, where rows of houses belong to the minority community have been burnt or ransacked.
Hundreds have fled their homes, most of them to the nearby hills. At Kanjamendi Colony at K Nuangan, there are only a few Christian families staying, with around 10 houses ransacked. After a 7-km trek up the Damberi Parvat, The Indian Express caught up with a group of villagers who have taken shelter in the forest. Men, women and children perched atop a hill with whatever is left of their belongings. “Over 300 people fled our village and have taken shelter in the forest since last Monday. After the mob attacked our village we took all we can and came here. Here we have almost nothing to eat, there is a constant downpour, our children are sick. But we are alive, thanks to God,” said Kanu Chandra Nayek, a bag on his back. His wife Sukumari and children Manas (10) and Sanjita (18) were with him. According to them, a mob attacked and ransacked their houses in the colony of the morning of August 25. “We called the police when we were attacked. Nobody has come until now,” said Hilton Nayek, an advocate in Baliguda court. He said he could neither go back to his home nor visit the court. Asked about their plight, Kishan Kumar, Collector of Kandamal, said: “We will arrange for relief camps shortly. This includes in areas like Firingia, G Udaygiri, Tikabali and K Nuagan.”
When asked about complaints of police inaction, DIG R P Kuche said: “We are doing our best to control the violence and protect the innocent. The process takes some time. I will look into the matter of police personnel present during any vandalism. Our priority is to restore law and order.” Said Saytabrata Sahu, Divisional Revenue Commissioner of Kandamal: “We are trying to provide relief to everyone affected. We have formed peace committees. This is all I can say.”
-Ravik Bhattacharya
The Indian Express.
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