One decade of Kandhamal carnage to be observed on Aug 25

By A Representative
Several civil rights activists attached with the National Solidarity Forum, Ram Puniyani, convener; Dhirendra Panda, coordinator; Ajaya Kumar Singh, founder member/ co-convener; KP Sasi, co-convener; and Kandhamal Survivors’ Association’s Manoj Nayak (coordinator), and Paul Pradhan (convener) have issued Call for Action appeal on completion of one decade of the Kandhamal carnage on August 25.
In a statement, they have recalled that during the "brutal invasion" on the Christian community, around 393 churches and worship places which belonged to the Adivasi Christians and Dalit Christians were destroyed, around 6,500 houses were destroyed, over 100 people were killed, over 40 women were subjected to rape, molestation and humiliation and several educational, social service and health institutions were destroyed and looted. Over 12,000 children lost their education. More than 56,000 people were forced to flee from Kandhamal.
"None of the criminals responsible for destruction are in jail today. The murderers, rapists, looters and destroyers are today moving around freely. But, seven innocent Adivasi Christians and Dalit Christians are still in jail with fabricated cases", it added.

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