Nirmala Carvalho

Young Hindu fundamentalists attack an enclosed convent. Police knew in advance that attacks would take place. Hindu radicals pledge more violence in other states of the Union.

Security forces have interrogated a dozen people, and hope to solve the case "soon". Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by an Islamic group that announces new attacks. The solidarity of the Catholic Church and of the international community, while the prime minister calls for "calm".

According to the government, the situation is "under control", but it has delayed the elections, and has barred entry to the district of Kandhamal. A Christian activist denounces new violence against the refugees, while Hindu fundamentalists have drawn up a list of 140 Christians "guilty" of the murder of the Swami.

Nuns are accused of abducting and converting children, but they regain custody after accusations are shown to be false. Sangh Parivar, which accuses them of “child trafficking,” plans a demonstration against the nuns for tomorrow. Insecurity spreads to the state of Karnataka where three Pentecostal churches are shut down despite having all the right papers.

As the situation gets back to normal amid fears and tensions, what happened is slowly emerging. Victims talk about the violence inflicted upon them, a true “attack against the sacredness and dignity of human life”. Beaten repeatedly and left unconscious for hours in the forest, Fr Bernard Digal tells his story.

Even in the camps, the faithful find fundamentalists who coerce them to convert to Hinduism. Priests also threatened and abused.

In many cities, Hindu religious representatives have condemned the violence against Christians in Orissa. Cardinal Vithayathil calls the day a sign of a "new era": the Christians have responded to the violence with nonviolence, following the teaching of Jesus.

The fundamentalists attacked the religious, accusing them of the "kidnapping and forced conversion" of four children between one and two years old. Although their identification documents were in order, the children were taken away from the sisters and put in a government hospital. Tough condemnation by the Indian Church.

They will host a small part of the 50 thousand people still hiding in the forests in the aftermath of recent violence. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sends a letter to Sr Nirmala Joshi, mother superior of the Missionaries of Charity.

Fr Edward Sequeira is among the victims of fundamentalist violence in Orissa. It was only by a miracle that he escaped from the burning of his orphanage, where his co-worker Rajni Majhi was burned to death. Now hospitalized in Mumbai, in intensive care, he agreed to talk with AsiaNews. For the priest, there needs to be international condemnation of the lack of respect for human rights and religious freedom that dominates rural India.

At least 10,000 people are asking for help at the shelters, while just as many are seeking refuge in the forests to escape the violence of the Hindu fundamentalists. According to "reliable sources" presented by a Christian activist, there are "at least 100 dead".

The Bishops’ Conference of India suspends all activities in the country’s Catholic institutions. Cardinal Gracias highlights the attempt to reawaken the conscience of people in India and around the world over the fate of Indian Christians. Non-Christian schools join peaceful protest.