Nirmala Carvalho

Maoists killed 55 police officers yesterday in Chhattisgarh state. For police officials the rebels’ modus operandi shows that they are the armed wing of an organised group.

Many rural tribes practice child murder on female offspring, often to avoid having to pay costly dowries. Now the government wants to take care of their costs.

Nandigram farmers oppose land requisitions for industrial plants. The government accuses subversive groups, but the opposition calls for strike protests.

The cardinal talks to AsiaNews about his experience in Bangalore where he is taking part in a conference on shrines and pilgrimages that began yesterday. On Thursday he is off to Taiwan.

The government has so far been unable to cope with the problem, especially in rural areas. Inadequate blood supplies and poor facilities are ongoing issues. And violence against women during their pregnancies is also a major cause in early child mortality. The Church has been actively addressing such issues.

US State Department's annual human rights report slams anti-conversion laws and anti-Christian attacks in India. Bishops’ Conference’ secretary general calls laws useless whilst Catholic activists warns that Christians’ declining demographic weight means they will not have any influence in the country within 20 years.

The Maharashtra State Commission recognises the case of a woman claiming compensation from her husband’s insurance company for her unborn grandchild, victim of a car accident

The problem has been rising in cities. Every day 19 women are killed for failing to bring a good dowry. United Nations will finance activities against discrimination and violence. Violence touches all castes and social classes, says Bishop of Muzaffarpur.

It is the first time such a ceremony has been held in Himachal Pradesh, where an anti-conversion law was recently enacted. A Catholic bishop warns that this is a dangerous situation for all Christians.

In Chhattisgarh a virtual campaign is taking place against the Church and Christians as the authorities target their land holdings. The diocese of Jashpur is pursued. State officials begin procedures to take over land on which a 30-year-old chapel now stands. Local bishop calls actions legalised theft, accuses government of using the law to its own ends.

On the fifth anniversary of a train fire in Godhra that sparked bloody ethnic-religious clashes in 2002, Hindu activists gathered to pray for their victims. Meanwhile 30,000 people by the violence continue to languish in deprivation in camps. We list a chronology of what happened and efforts to cover it up. The Indian church hopes past experience will prompt people to work for social harmony.

The Neo-catechumen parents live near Mumbai. They talk to AsiaNews about their 22 years of marriage and the joy of being open to life and the Will of the Lord, but also about prejudices they endure in a society in which the family is under constant attack.