Today I am adding some testimonies from Orissa that has been collected by pastor Rakesh Joseph. We need to publish these testimonies to raise prayer support for our suffering brothers and sisters in India.
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–>
Rabindranath
Pradhan from Gadragam village testifies with a broken heart saying as most of
the villagers who ran to the nearby forest to save themselves from the flames
of the burning village set by the Hindu fanatic mob. Helplessly his handicapped
brother couldn’t escape & was caught hold by the rioters who eventually
poured petrol on him & set him afire & then started calling out on his
name challenging him to come out & save his brother. But Pradhan helplessly
saw & heard his brother’s cry. The burnt corpse is still lying there
rotting where it fell. (TOI Publication)
TESTIMONIES
OF MARTYRES BY THEIR WIDOWS:
Mrs.Pushpanjali Panda, wife of martyred Pastor
Divya Sunder is a well educated
government teacher in Phulbani, Orissa was shattered & broken when on
her way to the Pastor’s ministry field saw the disfigured body of her husband
surrounded by a crowd. As I spoke to her with a heavy heart she told me that
how on the night of 26th August, a group of Hindu fanatics called Pastor Divya
Sunder out of His rented house to a dark lonely place by force & started
hitting him with iron rods & finally they crushed his head with a big stone
& threw his body in the river. She is now left with her only minor
daughter.
Mrs Sarah Nayak, wife of martyred brother Gopan
Nayak a strong Christian leader says, on the morning of 26th Aug. at 10:00 AM was chased
by a Hindu fanatic mob into the Church compound who then slaughtered him by the
sword, burned his body & threw him into the river. Mrs.Sarah Nayak told me
with a heavy heart that now she is left with two small children of age 6 &
8. She herself is a social worker who had served this community for years with
her husband are left helpless & homeless by the same people she had served.
Mrs.Ludia Digal, wife of martyred Pastor
Akbar Digal says, that on 26th Aug. as they were hiding in the
field. Pastor Akbar told them to move ahead & hide elsewhere. Mrs.Ludia
with her four year old son hid in a nearby bush & were the helpless
spectators of the ruthless killing of Pastor Akbar Digal. The Hindus first burned
his house & then detected him hiding in the field & they dragged him to
the campus of World Vision office where they brutally cut his two hands saying
"that you Christians are told to forgive & that persecution will
befall you", saying this they striped him of his clothes & slaughtered
him to death by the sword. His body lay there but his shocked & terrified
wife & child didn’t dare to come near his body. After hiding for a day in
that bush, the four year old son of the martyred Pastor boldly told his mother,
" let us go near the body of my father & if they want to kill us let
them do that", hearing this the mother was filled with courage &
finally went near the body of the martyred Pastor.
Mrs.Upajini Nayak, wife of martyred Pastor
Samuel Nayak, says that a mob of Hindu fanatics surrounded their house,
poured petrol & set it on fire. Mrs. Nayak was able to escape but they
cought Pastor and his mother. They beat him badly and threw him in the fire but
as the Pastor was burning he was Praising God singing, "The day of the
Lord is coming near…." Pastor’s old mother who could not escape was also
thrown in the fire.
A few more names of the Martyrs:
· Mr. Ajuba Nayak- Village Barakhama
· Mr. Praful Nayak – Village Barakhama
· Mr. Ramesh Chandra Digal- Village Budamaha
· Mr. Trinath Digal- Village Tiangi
· Mr. Rasanand Pradhan- Village Chakapatu
· Mr. Dasharathi Pradhan- Village Tiangi
· Mr. Gayadhar Digal- Village Phiringia
· Mr. Mathew Digal- Village Gudakiya
· Mr. Abhimanyu Nayak- Village Tikawali
· Mr. Parikhit Nayak- Village Tiangia
· Mr. Dinbandhu Pradhan- Village Lawangiya
· Mrs. Janamati Nayak- Village Batingia
These are only a few names of the Martyrs who have been identified so
far. The death count has gone over 300 according to Pastor Thomas who is now in
the relief camp at Raikia. It is difficult to keep a track of the dead as a
number of them are left rotting in the jungles & the villages whereas a lot
of them have been burnt and thrown in the river.
All the Christian houses, Churches, Institutions & Orphanages have
been completely destroyed & burnt down to ruins in Kandhamal & Phulbani
districts of Orissa. A place, which was once inhabited by prosperous God
fearing Christians & surrounded by natural beauty, is now just a heap of
ashes. The remnant of Christians who continue to live in fear & haunted by
the painful memories do no longer want to live in the same villages.
Now is the time when the Church as a whole collectively should take the
responsibility to help our fellow brothers & sisters to start their lives
afresh.
I appeal to the universal Church to come together & share the love
of Christ by our actions.
Report compiled by
Pastor Rakesh Joseph
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