Nirmala Carvalho

Blast occurs during Friday prayers in the city’s historic mosque. The dynamics of the incident are still unknown. Local archbishop calls it “senseless violence against the innocent.” Diocese puts its medical facilities at the disposal of the injured. Tonight prayers will be said for the victims.

Yesterday afternoon in New Delhi, two men entered St. Vincent’s primary where they sought out the young priest who runs the school and shot at him, without killing him. The theory of a motive to robbery fails to convince the Archdiocese.

After Christian missionaries are seen beaten on TV, a delegation of religious leaders and civil rights activists meet the Indian state’s chief minister. They appeal for respect of minorities, enforcement of existing laws and a police’s commitment against violence that undermines national unity itself. Mumbai archbishop says Christians have “faith in the constitution.”

Fr Mangattuthazhe: pressing poverty and inter-racial conflicts lead to frequent violence, which is sure to explode again unless steps are taken to prevent it. Yesterday, clashes between tea plantation workers and thousands of ethic Assamese led to deaths and injuries.

In India’s most populated state (175 million people), the state-based Bahujan Samaj Party gets more than 50 per cent of the vote. Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party loses big. Discussions will start to form a coalition government as people comment the results.

In welcoming a resolution before the US Congress on India’s caste system, the Bishops’ Conference of India insists on the role education for women can play in Dalit emancipation.

After the case of the Protestant clergyman in Jaipur, the beating of other Christians is shown on TV. Hindu extremists are making up stories of forced conversions of Hindus to justify their actions whilst police lets the perpetrators of the violence go scott free. For one human rights activist, the attacks are part of a wider, premeditated plan to provoke mass psychosis in the Christian community. He calls on governments to intervene.

Christians are increasingly the victims of violence in India. Despite complaints and filing charges, police does not always intervene. In the latest case last Sunday, a clergyman and his family were threatened by a group of fundamentalists.

Lenin Raghuvanshi will receive the 2007 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights on 18 May. Just 37, this man has already made a significant contribution to the struggle for respect for the dignity of all marginalized people, especially Dalits.

Archbishop Oswald Gracias, president of the Indian Conference and spiritual leader of the Mumbai Archdiocese speaks to AsiaNews about the Lineamenta published ahead of the synod of bishops on the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church. All through 2008 the archdiocese’s pastoral work will be dedicated to the Word.

Deputy Inspector General D G Vanzara is arrested after being charged with the death of an alleged terrorist, who after being set up was tortured and killed with his wife. Since 2002 413 people have disappeared in Gujarat, leading critics to accuse the state’s controversial chief minister, Narendra Modi, and to call for his resignation. The state goes to the polls in a few months.

Guns and home-made bombs were used during clashes in Nandigram between Communist Party activists and farmers. Dozens wounded and at least one person was left dead, while the police failed to intervene. The communist government convokes party members, while the opposition asks the central government to intervene. .