Orissa Christians are 'Prisoners' in India, Says Ministry

By Ethan Cole
Christian Post Reporter
Fri, Sep. 11 2009

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 still are seeking refuge in relief camps and are 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.

“These people are prisoners on their own land,” reported a co-worker of Open Doors who recently visited a village in Orissa. the rest