Indian Christians in the eastern state of Orissa live as if they are prisoners, reported a co-worker of a ministry supporting persecuted churches. More than 4,000 Christians in Orissa were refuges in relief camps and were unable to return to their villages for fear of death or forcible conversion to Hinduism. Though this number is down from about 50,000 displaced persons earlier this year, it is still an unacceptable figure given the government has had a year to ensure security for the Christian community in Orissa. Hindu extremists carried out the worst religious persecution in India’s 60 years of democracy. At least 120 people were murdered, 250 churches destroyed and over 50,000 individuals displaced. The anti-Christian riots began after a Hindu leader was assassinated in August 2008. Hindu nationalists accused Christians of orchestrating the murder, but Maoist rebels had publicly claimed responsibility for the swami’s death while Christians vehemently denied any involvement in the incident. Despite evidence defending Christians from any wrongdoing, Hindu mobs set fire to at least 74 homes and destroyed others. Those affected by the violence have filed more than 750 cases in various police stations, but thus far, only six people have been convicted in two cases. Recent reports indicate witnesses in court cases are the target of death threats by Hindu extremists. Some of the witnesses, as a result, have run away out of fear. 

Number of districts affected - 14

• Kandhmal 
• Gajapati
• Ganjam
• Koraput
• Nayagarh
• Sambalpur
• Kalahandi
• Bargarh
• Cuttack
• Rayagada
• Bhadrak
• Baudh
• Naupada
• Narbarangapur

After a through survey of what can be done for this heart struck community, Shelter Ministries has under taken a long term missionary producing centre where pastors will be raised in the future for their own communities in their own place” Orissa”.