Nirmala Carvalho

A threatening letter accusing Card. Telesphore Toppo, bishop of Ranchi of having made himself wealthy 'spreading religion", and demands 50 million rupees. Authors suspected splinter group of Communist-Maoist Party. Police strengthen security measures. Cardinal to AsiaNews: "False, unfounded and fabricated allegations."

The quake might have compromised the pregnancy of some 50,000 women. Women and children are the most affected by the tragedy. Some students “are inconsolable because they lost their home." Catholic buildings withstood better the quake. In a display of generosity, neighbours helped nuns.

Unidentified assailants attacked the Believers Church School in Madhyamgram destroying furnishings and furniture, contaminating the water filtration system, and looting food supplies. They caused panic and terror among those present in the facility. For Christian activist, this is "second serious” incident of violence against a peaceful minority.

Pre-monsoon rains are expected by the end of this week. Varanasi Priest speaks of "human tragedy", which mainly hit the poorest in the country. Because of the high temperatures, many are too weak to work and also risk of starvation.

Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (Wnta), a network of over 400 voluntary organizations all over the country, has compiled a report on the first 12 months in office of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Many campaigns and development programs have been launched, but with little effect on the population. Concerns over cuts to education and healthcare sector, areas crucial to the future of new generations. Increased violence against religious and social minorities.

Rev Timothy Chaitanya Murmu, from the Pentecostal community in the village of Manohar, has been in jail for four days. He is "guilty" of baptising 16 tribal people. For the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), he was arrested because of a “legal technicality”.

For Mgr Agnelo Gracias, the woman who spent 42 years of his life in a coma is not the face of euthanasia. Hospital nurses who cared for her are the "real heroines". The wife of a great-grandnephew said the family was against ending life support.

After 42 years in coma the nurse died yesterday in Mumbai from pneumonia. Her story sparked the debate on euthanasia in India, which was legalized in 2011 in a "passive" form (interruption of treatments necessary for survival). The staff who in recent years cared for her "with boundless tenderness and sincere charity, promoting a society of true compassion and justice for all."

In schools administered by them, the priests of the district of Mahasamund will be called "Pracharya", "Sir". Bishop of Ranchi to AsiaNews: "Unconstitutional abuse of power ".

Unknown attackers threw heavy bricks on the house of the Augustinian nuns in Pipaldhar, in the Diocese of Khandwa. The building is also home to a centre for disabled children. The sisters are enlarging the facility to make it more welcoming. “The attack is an affront against society itself,” said a Christian activist. “Their night-time raid reflects the darkness of their minds and hearts.”

The incidents occurred last night in Indore. The actions were carried out against opposition leader Sonia Gandhi who was supposed to inaugurate a new orphanage run by missionaries. For the Global Council of Indian Christians, “religious freedom is on a downward spiral for Christians”.

After TJ Joseph was accused of blasphemy in 2010, a group of Muslims cut off one of his hands. A court in Ernakulam handed down an eight-year sentence to ten defendants, two years for the other three. The prosecutor had demanded life imprisonment. The main suspect is still at large.