Fourteenth anniversary of the Christian massacre, in Kandhamal Odisha

It has been 14 years since the Christian massacre that took place in Odisha's Kandhamal in 2008. August 23 is the fourteenth anniversary of the Christian massacre.

Radical Hindutvadis started attacking Christians by raising the allegation of killing 81-year-old Laxmanananda Swami on Janmashtami day 23 August 2008. For two days they marched through the streets of Kandhamal with the dead body of Swami Laxmanananda chanting that they should take revenge against the Christians. They saw this as a communal way of seeing Christians as enemies. The Hindutvadis asked the Christians to change their religion if they wanted to live there and the Christians refused.

After this, many people died tragically. More than a hundred Christians were martyred. Thousands of people ran and hid in the forests. 6000 houses and 300 churches were destroyed in the violence. 56,000 people became homeless. Despite all that has happened, justice is still far away for Kandhamal Christians. In 2016, the Supreme Court itself had criticized the release of those arrested as accused in the case and the non-compensation of the victims of the massacre. The court also said that the fact that so many people were killed is a cause for concern.

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The court observed that out of 827 cases registered, no action was taken in 315 cases. Out of 362 cases where judgment was given, only 78 cases were punished. Meanwhile, seven illiterate Christians accused of being responsible for Laxmanananda's death were taken into police custody and put on trial. This includes someone with mental health issues. After two judges were transferred in 2013, a third judge sentenced the Christians. But in 2019, the Supreme Court granted bail to the Christians. Journalist Anto Akkara, who has been fighting for justice for Kandhamal martyrs for the past decade and a half, said that only if the innocent Christians are acquitted, the truth behind the Kandhamal bloodshed can be found and all Christians should pray for this.