Search the Internet           Tips

Christian prayer houses set afire in Orissa

Tension has gripped the communally sensitive tribal dominated Phulbani district in Orissa after four Christian prayer houses were set on fire last week.

"Tension gripped the district after miscreants burnt some Christian prayer houses," Phulbani Superintendent of Police P S Ranapise said. The incidents occurred on the nights of October 3 and 4.

Ranapise told rediff.com on Tuesday morning that two pucca prayer houses belonging to the Catholic and Baptist denominations, at Sindhipankala village under Tumidibandh police station and Lankagarh village under Belgarh police station, were set on fire by unidentified miscreants on the night of October 3.

Subsequently, on the night of October 4, unidentified miscreants set on fire and vandalised two other prayer houses in Ramgiri village under Belgarh police station.

Christians have filed two First Information Reports in this connection and named over a dozen persons as accused in the incidents at Sindhipankala and Lankagarh villages.

Sources in the Phulbani collector's office told rediff.com that damaging of Christian prayer houses was the result of increasing tension between Christians and tribals in the district.

Till date, no one has been arrested in this connection.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report