The persecution on India is real. I've heard directly from two of my ministry contacts there, and one of my own church members, an Indian native, confirmed the reports after coming back from a month long visit. Here is the report from Bishop M. Prakash, a personal acquaintance of mine:
September 25, 2008: Additional forces were deployed and curfew clamped in nine sensitive areas of Orissa's Kandhamal district on Thursday in the wake of fresh violence and arson in the region. More then 100 houses and a couple of churches and prayer houses were either set afire or damaged in about half-a-dozen places under Daringibadi, G Udaygiri and Tikabali police stations in the early hours on Thursday and late Wednesday night, our missionary reported. Road blockades took place at around 42 places in Tikabali and G Udaygiri areas, making it virtually impossible for security forces to proceed. Clashes broke out Wednesday night after police tried to prevent mobs from torching Christian homes. In a bid to check further flare up, curfew was clamped in nine places of the district where 42 companies of security forces including CRPF and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed. About 30 houses and a church were burnt and damaged at Sikacheta village under Badapanga gram panchayat in Daringibadi area by an unruly mob, police said. In a similar attack at Telenga village in G Udaygiri area, 20 houses were damaged, adding as many as 55 houses and a church were damaged at Beheragaon under Tikabali police station area. The situation turned worse as the telecommunication system virtually collapsed in the tribal dominated district since Tuesday. Vital road links including the one between Berhampur and Phulbani were snapped due to blockade, while the process to clear the roads was delayed in view of unavailability of adequate personnel of Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF, sources said adding that many of them had been engaged in flood relief. Trouble had erupted on Tuesday after a brief gap when a mob had attacked the police station and securitymen at Raikia demanding release of some tribals held on rioting charge. SISWA requests prayers for the protection and safety of Christians even when the police seems inadequate to contain the situation in riot hit Orissa and despite Governments assurance the communal flare up is still going strong. With prayers, Bishop. Dr. M. Prakash,
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