Violence in Orissa

Communal violence in Orissa:

By: Souvik Chatterji

Master of Law from Warwick University, Coventry,UK

Master of Law from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Address: Golden Oak Apartment, Flat-204,

D105B, Devi Marg, Bani park,

Jaipur-302016.

Email: souvik_chatterji2000@yahoo.co.in

The social scenario in Orissa is a bit different if compared to other states in eastern India. Orissa has a number of rural areas comprising of tribal population and there are communal tensions in these regions as opposed to other security issues. In 1999, 157 houses in the tribal areas of Orissa faced clashes relating to Hindus and Christians.

Ranalai village in Orissa were affected by the clash. The main issue was the recognition of the individual faiths in the mentioned area. Since 1972, in this place both the Hindus and the Christians lived together harmoniously. There was painted cross exhibited in the hillock which showed the sign of existence of the Christians. There was a local meeting between the two communities to resolve the issue and it was decided that the cross will be erased.

But it was reported that around 1500 tribals gathered near the noted place on March 15^th in 1999 and driven the Christians across the place. The police were informed and 26 tribals were arrested including 2 Christians who were send to Paralakhemundi jail. Between January, 2000 and July, 2000, around 57 Christians were attacked in the tribal regions of Orissa including priests, nuns and members of charitable institutions. It even included the killing of Graham Steins and his sons Phillip and Timothy in 1999, where Dara Singh was the prime accused.

The main reason which has facilitated the tensions in the region include the process of conversion of poor Hindu tribals into Christianity. The ironical part is that these tribals have felt that they are left out of the Hindu society and by embracing Christianity they can help, love and recognition which they missed in the Hindu society. It has been alleged the VHP and other Hindu radical activists tried to stop the conversion forcefully without addressing the problem of lack of education, poverty, etc. Orissa had passed the Freedom of Religion Act in 1968, which has parity with the Preamble of Indian Constitution which talks about secularism. There was also a re-conversion program launched by BJP and other parties which were called "ghar-wapasi." The violence in these parts of the states had erupted easily in the past for the reason of lack of education and understanding of the tribal groups who are easy to be moulded and brainwashed by interested groups.

Orissa also has the anti-conversion law which was introduced by the Congress government previously. Significantly the law also prohibits the conversion of a Hindu into a Christian even under inducement as opposed to force and fraudulent means. Orissa has the Freedom of Religion Act, where as Madhya Pradesh has Madhya Pradesh Dharma Swatantra Abhiniyam. The National Christian Council right from the 70s till today had raised their grievances in respect of the above mentioned pieces of legislations. They also challenged the Acts in the light of Article 25 (1) of the Indian Constitution. Chief Justice A. N. Ray, in his decision has said that propagation of a religion does not extend to conversion and the Supreme Court decision in 1977, authenticated the Acts passed by Orissa and MP Government and also created a path whereby other states are allowed to enact similar legislations.

In 2005, death of RSS supporter in Champua in Orissa, had led to communal violence and the police had to intervene. The supporters even accused the police of inactiveness in the area. Though most of the violence are not only related to Christians there are evidences of existence of communal disharmony in Orissa.

Although in recent times, there are no noted incidents of communal violence of the stature of Graham Steins incident or the Gujarat riots that took place in the recent past, the difference of opinions in the minds of both the communities (Hindus and Christians) in these tribal areas in Orissa still exist today.

The main way of tackling the situation include the local self government in the hilly and tribal regions in Orissa should keep a close eye the law and order situation. There is requirement of dialogue between the two communities for maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the region. Those forces that generally instigate the uneducated tribal folk requires identification. More police force is required in these areas. The most important requirement is that of job opportunities which can keep the tribals busy and divert their attention from destructive activities.