Elderly Christian lady murdered; Inspector killed on the way

Trissur (Kerala, India), SVM News, August 31, 2007: An elderly christian woman of 83-years-old brutally murdered on August 31 at Porathassery near Irinjalakkuda in Trissur district of Kerala in India.

The police officer who was coming to investigate the case killed on the way.

Mariyam, wife of Lonappan of Alappadan house was the elderly woman beaten to death by an wooden piece at her head on Thursday in between 4 to 5 in the early dawn.

Mariyam and Lonappan were alone at their house. Three of their four sons Johny, Wilson and Johnson are working in Arabian Gulf. Their second son Paul lives in a seperate house in a distance of around 250 meters. Rosely and Clara are the daughters living in different places.

The youngest daughter-in-law (Johnson's wife) and children had been with them, but because of the grand Onam festival of Kerala, they were out these days to visit her parents.

Lonappan regularly getting up before 4 in the early morning for milking the cow. Thursday also he got up at the same time and went to the cattle shed for milking. When he return back after milking, he saw Mariyam was lying down with full of blood in their bedroom with severe head injuries and found her dead.

86-year-old Lonappan is having the trouble of hearing, so he did not hear the uproars or any unusual sounds.

The wooden piece, which suppose to have used to beat her head was left in the room. Also found that Mariyam's two golden chains of 24 grams and 5 hand rings of eight grams each were missing from the body. But the two finger rings she wore were found kept in her fingers.

The murderer might have entered the house through the back door and attacked Mariyam, when Lonappan went to the cattle shed for milking the cow. Police officials said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service. "It seems the murderers intention could be robbery," police said.

His second son Paul was informed and he reached the house at once. He telephoned the Circle Inspector of Police of Irinjalakuda.

K.L. Jose, 43, the Circle Inspector of Police took the jeep and was coming to the spot to investigate the murder case. On the way the jeep in which he was traveling overturned and rammed into a tree and was killed.

Jose leaves behind Jain, his widow, who is a teacher of Chalakkudi Sacred Heart School and 4 year daughter Evilin, a UKG student.

Inspector General of Police Vijayanand, District Superintendent of Police T. Chandran, Deputy Superintendent V.V.Sasi and forensic experts have been visited the incident house. Circle Inspector Shahul hameed investigating the case.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the director of Salem Voice Ministries condemned the incident. He asked the authorities to have a very clear and detailed investigation not only for the elderly woman's death, but Circle Inspector's death also.

"Both victims killed inexplicable way. 83 year old woman's murder seems many obscurities. And the Circle Inspector K.L.Jose was alone and he himself drove the jeep, because the driver was absent in the police station. On the way he rammed into a tree and killed. It also seems mysterious. So both cases need a crime branch investigation," Ciniraj said. Christian persecution in India is increasing day by day," he added.

Source: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews238.html

Three women and a man beheaded in Orissa alleged sorcery

(Paul Ciniraj, Salem Voice Ministries)

Balasore (Orissa, India), SVM News, August 30, 2007: A tribal man and three women were brutally beheaded by a group of villagers who suspected them that they were practising sorcery at Pratappur village in Balasore district of Orissa state in India.

The terrible and horrible incident occurred on the night of August 26 when heads and torsos of four persons were severed from their bodies in presence of about 100 armed villagers with sharp weapons.

The victims have been identified as Budhini Sing and Soren Sing, who were the husband and wife, and their daughter's-in-laws Somabari Singh and Pia Singh. They belong to the Kohla tribe. Budhini and Soren of Ayurbhanj district had come to visit their daughter’s in-laws. They were in the age group between 22 and 45.

The incident came to the light when district police recovered headless bodies from different points of Sono and Budhabalanga rivers on August 30.

A so-called village assembly sentenced the victims to death after holding them responsible for the death of a 17-year-old boy Raju Singh, son of Siba Singh. The teenager died of snakebite on night of August 14, police said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Siba Singh, who is an influential ward member of the village assembly said to the villagers that the snake sneaked into his son's bed under sorcerer's spell against his family. On the day of Akadasah, which was a ritual function of the 11th day of the death of Raju, Siba called a village meeting where it was decided to find out the sorcerers and behead them.

By this time Budhini and Soren have had come from Mayurbhanj district to visit their daughter's-in-laws Somabari and Pia . Siba and the villagers decided that they were the practitioners of the witchcrafts done sorcery against his family.

The reason they found that the husband of Pia Singh murdered on 2006 after he was tagged as a person practicing sorcery. As a result, those four persons were hacked to death in presence of villagers.

Rabi Singh, an eyewitness told the police, "at least a hundred people were present in the meeting that day. While four people killed them, others were watching the ghastly incident. They then threw the bodies and weapons used in the crime into the river".

P.K. Das, the additional superintendent of police said they could only find three bodies. As the bodies were found under three different police stations, Remuna, Nilgiri and Sadar, three different cases were registered in these stations under 302 and 211 of IPC.

Pray for Indian brothers and sisters to be delivered from supersitions and witchcrafts by accepting Jesus Christ as their personal saviour. For Christ Jesus came from above as God's only begotten Son by the power of the Holy Spirit to reunite all the human beings unto the Merciful God through the sacrificial death of the Cross on the Calvary. He did it as a ransom for many. He bruised the head of Satan, the old snake and redeemed all human beings from the death forever. Those who believe Him will be saved. No sorcery and witchcraft befall you or even touch you, your household and your family. For in Jesus Christ, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of the grace.

Source: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews235.html

Alleged thief brutally thrashed by crowd and police

Bhagalpur (Bihar, India), SVM News, August 29, 2007: An young man named Aurangzeb alias Salim was mercilessly beaten by a crowd, tied to a policeman's motorcycle and dragged after being accused of stealing a gold chain in Nathnagar town of Bhagalpur district in Bihar State in India on August 26.

Aurangzeb had allegedly snatched a gold chain from a devotee Shanti Devi in front of Manskamnadhish temple here following which he was ruthlessly thrashed by a crowd.

L.B. Singh, the Assistant Sub Inspector of police and constable Ramchandra Rai arrived at the scene and took him into custody. One of them then tied Aurangzeb by his foot to the vehicle and dragged him on the street for some distance. He was then dumped on a cycle-cart to be taken to the police station before being sent to a hospital.

As some channels aired the incident, DIG, Bhagalpur range, G.N. Sharma said "it was an attempt to discredit the police which had done a good job in rescuing the thief from the crowd".

He said that "Aurangzeb, who was fastened to the motorcycle to prevent him from escaping, fell on the bumpy road accidentally and got dragged for a little distance".

Bihar police spokesperson Anil Sinha described the incident as "horrifying" and "shocking". "We condemn it. An inquiry has been ordered into the incident and the policeman has been suspended," he said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

State Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah said instructions have been given to the Superintendent of Police to inquire into the incident.

Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad, who is the former Chief Minister of Bihar termed the incident as shameful. He alleged that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has no control over the administration.

Meanwhile, Aurangzeb said to the media persons on Wednesday that he doesn't remember who else were beaten him up, for he lost his conciousness. In fact, he was too much scared to speak out against his uniformed tormentors.

Human rights organisations have condemned the incident and demanded immediate action against the policemen.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notice to Bihar Police on Tuesday to produce a report on the incident and indicated it could send a team to Bhagalpur to investigate the case.

Source: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews234.html

Riots in the home of Taj Mahal; Curfew imposed

(Paul Ciniraj, Salem Voice Ministries)

Agra (India), SVM News, August 29, 2007: Police imposed a curfew following rioting that left one person dead and 50 hurt on Wednesday, the 29th of August in Agra, the home town of Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world. And Taj Mahal was closed to tourists.

Thousands of tourists are stranded in Agra, 120 miles south of New Delhi, after angry mobs burnt down at least 13 trucks and a police van in protest at the death of four Muslims in a traffic accident.

The state government of Uttar Pradesh issued an advisory asking tourists to stay in their hotels until order was restored in the city.

"A speeding truck killed four Muslim youth in the Nai Mandi area, who were participating Shab-e-Baraaat, a religious function of Muslims to pray for the dead that falls about two weeks before the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan," Vikram Singh, the Director General of Police said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Around four kilometres from the Taj Mahal, spread the news of the accident quickly and residents spilled onto the streets. The one who killed in violance also was a Muslim.

The Additional District Magistrate was injured in the violence. Several policemen have also been injured and more police forces were being rushed from neighbouring places of Meerut, Hatras and Etawah.

Police tried to break up the crowd with tear gas and live rounds fired into the air, but were pelted with stones, sticks and bottles. The crowd later set fire to a shoe factory too.

The Nai Mandi neighborhood of Agra is home to both Hindus and Muslims and the two communities have often clashed, but Chamber said the rioting was not sectarian.

All schools and colleges closed for next three days in the city, whose population of 1.6 million people is 20 per cent Muslim.

The white marble Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died while giving birth to their 14th child. It was completed in 1648 after 17 years of construction, involving 20,000 workers.

Almost three million domestic and foreign tourists visit the Taj Mahal annually, more than any other tourist site in India.

News with pictures: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews233.html

Seminary student found missing from East India

Kolkata (India), SVM News, August 28, 2007: Jobinson Joseph, 25, a student of Bonamali Dharmaniketan Catholic Seminary in Beehala of Kolkata found missing since August 22.

He was also known as Joksi.

He was a second year student of B.Com too at St. Xavier's College alongwith seminary education for priesthood.

Rev. Father Pathikkal, rector of the seminary informed about Joksi's missing to his parents in Kerala. Rector told them that he had gone to the college on 22nd morning for his studies, but did not come back to the seminary.

Joksi's father Kalappurakkal Joseph George alias Appachai at Champakulam Amichakari in Alappuzha district of Kerala State said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that he leaves to Kolkata to know details of his missing.

Appachai asked Paul Ciniraj, director of the Salem Voice Ministries to request all prayer warriors around the globe to pray for his son Joksi, that they may find him without any harm.

Source: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews232.html

Mar Chrysostem steps down Marthoma Metropolitanship

Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries

Tiruvalla (Kerala, India), SVM News, August 28, 2007: Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostem Marthoma Metropolitan stepping down from the position of supreme head and daily administration of the Marthoma Church of Malabar due to physical ailments.

Mar Chrysostem declared his decision at the concluding session of the Legislative Assembly of the Marthoma Church (Pradinidhi Mandalam) which was held at Tiruvalla on August 28, 2007.

He shaked the hands of Rt. Rev. Dr Joseph Mar Irenaeus Suffragan Metropolitan and asked him to take over the daily administration of the Church.

Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostem recently broke the record as the longest serving bishop in India. The record held by Bishop Jerome Fernandez of Kollam Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church which was 19799 days (54 years and two months) had been broken by Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostem, on August 6, 2007.

He was consecrated as a bishop on 23 May, 1953 and installed as Metropolitan (Supreme head of the church) on 23 October, 1999. He was succeeded Dr. Alexander Marthoma Valiya Metropolitan and was the 20th successor to the throne of St. Thomas, the Apostle of Jesus Christ.

Philipose Mar Chrysostem was born on 27 April 1918 by name Philip Oommen. He was the son of Rev. K.E. Mamman and Mrs. Sosamma Mamman of Adangappurathu Kalamannil family at Puramattom in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala. He was ordained as a deacon on 1st of January and as a minister on 3rd of June, 1944. He was consecrated as bishop on 1953 by name Philipose Mar Chrysostem.

He recently celebrated his 90th birthday.

Dr Joseph Mar Irenaeus Suffragan Metropolitan was born on 27 June, 1931 as the son of Lukose of Maramon Palakkunnathu Kadone family and Mariamma of Puthoor family. He was ordained as a deacon on 29th of June and as a minister on 18th of October, 1957. He was consecrated as bishop on 8 February, 1975 and designated as Suffragan Metropolitan on March 15, 1999.

Marthoma Syrian Church, traditionally believed to have been founded by St. Thomas, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ in the year AD 52.

It is an espiscopal, protestant and Gospel spreading Church, reformed from the Orthodox Syrian tradition about 170 years ago.

The church presently has around 1,000,000 members. The majority of the membership of the church is in the southern Indian state of Kerala but it has spread with the 20th Century Indian diaspora to North America, Europe, the Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, this in addition to a sizeable population in the rest of India.

Marthoma Church is in full communion with the Anglican Church, including the Church of South India and Church of North India.

Asia's largest eight days Gospel Convention called "Maramon Convention" held every year during the month of February under the auspices of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church.

Source: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews231.html

Indian christian employees persecute in Saudi Arabia

Asir (Saudi Arabia), SVM News, August 27, 2007: 17 Indian christian employees are suffering house arrest and severe persecution at a water company in Asir province in Saudi Arabia since August 15. They don't even get proper food and needed treatment.

It was revealed by Manoj of Kerala State, who escaped from the Saudi company and reached back to India.

"There were 22 youth were selected and sent to Saudi Arabia by a recruiting agency for the post of driver cum salesman during the last week of April, 2007. Company offered them eight hours duty per day, good salary, and flight charges from India," Manoj said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

"But company did not keep the promises, because the employees were christians. They did not pay back their flight charges too," Manoj continued. "Employees were told to work in the company 18 hours per day without any rest. They were treated as slaves. Company authorities did not want to consider them even as domestic animals," Manoj said with tears.

Manoj became sick during those days. But company did not sanction him leave at least. Manoj became worse. His friends forcely took him to the hospital. That provoked the company authorities and they started more persecution to the other christian employees and put them under house arrest. They hardly get proper food in the custody. When they are being provided some food, Arabian people spitting on it and giving them to eat.

When he became seriously ill, company sent him back to India without giving him salary and allowances. Manoj said to the SVM News that he did not have a single coin with him. He sent a missed call to his brother, so that his brother called back from his mobile and came to know Manoj is arriving back to India. And he went and picked him up from Trivandrum air port.

Ronald Alex from Iritty in Kannur district was one among those 22. "He regularly used speaking us from Saudi Arabia by phone. But since August 15 we did not receive any call from him. So we enquired and found he is under police custody," Ronald's father Baby and mother Gracy told to Paul Ciniraj, the director of the Salem Voice Ministries.

Another young man Jose Chacko, son of Chacko and Mariamma from Iritty itself in Kannur district fear the arrest of Saudi police and hiding in a Keralite's home.

PLease pray for these christian youth.

Source: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews230.html

India: Twin blasts in Hyderabad; More than 40 dead

(Paul Ciniraj, SVM News)

Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh, India), SVM News, August 25, 2007: More than 40 people were killed and over a hundred and twenty injured in two simultaneous blasts at a crowded park in Hyderabad this evening.

The powerful blast occured in an open auditorium at Lumbini amusement park at about 7.30 pm, where there was a laser show was going on. Some of the bodies were flung into the air and scattered in this heart of the city.

The another blast occured with a gap of 5 to 10 minutes time in an eating center at Gokul chat bhandar at Kothi area.

The sound of the explosion was heard more than 2 miles.

Dozens of people, mostly children severely injured and admitted to the Mediciti Hospital, Osmania Hospital and some other hospitals.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India condemned the bomb blasts in Hyderabad and expressed deep concern.

Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh held an emergency meeting with top police officials and soon afterwards rushed to the spot.

The police suspect that going by the impact and high casualties, it could be triggered by RDX. Also suspecting ISI may be behind it. Also suspects the hands of ISI might be behind it.

Government declared a red alert to the major cities of South India.

It is just after three months of the powerful explosion at Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad.

http://salemvoice.org/svmnews228.html

Indians attacked by a raging mob in Germany

(Paul Ciniraj, SVM News)

Saxony (Germany), SVM News, August 20, 2007: Eight Indians were attacked and chased by a raging mob of about 50 Germans during the annual Old Town Festival of. Mügeln in the eastern German state of Saxony over the weekend.

Fourteen people were injured, including four assailants and two police officers at the incident in the early hours of Sunday. The trigger for the violence was a brawl on the dance floor in a party tent shortly right after midnight of Saturday, police said.

One of the victims, Kulvir Singh, 39, said that he was hit with a bottle in the tent and that one of his eyes was injured. Others were attacked with flying glass and beaten including his friend Singh Gorvinda, adding that, without help from police, they might have been beaten to death. In the beginning the situation got so out of control that even police "could not do anything against the mob," Singh said.

Saxony state police chief Bernd Merbitz told DPA that a "xenophobic motive" could have been a factor in the violence.

"The Indians sought shelter in a pizza parlor run by an Indian, but some of the Germans kicked in the doors of the building and beat them up badly. One Indian man remained hospitalized Monday," said Ilka Peter, a spokeswoman for police in nearby Leipzig. "Two of the attackers, aged 21 and 23, were arrested but later released. The police have set up a 15 member task force to investigate the incident and track down those responsible for the violence. People arrested could face charges of assault, causing malicious damage and breach of peace," she continued.

"We were told that some people were shouting 'foreigners get out,' but we don't know if those slurs came from the onlookers or the attackers," Peter added that 70 police officers were needed to bring the situation under control.

Ilka Peter also said that the police were told before the fair that right-wing extremists were planning an attack on a youth center in Muegeln, but the club was not targeted.

According the reports, town's population stood by and watched the incident. The restaurant owner's car was also seriously damaged. The Indian men are mostly merchants who sell goods at open markets in the region.

Muegeln mayor Gotthard Deuse said on MDR television that the incident may have had a racist motivation. However, he contended that "if this was a far-right incident, then the assailants did not come from Muegeln."

Saxony state Premier Georg Milbradt, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, visited the town on Monday evening for a first-hand look at the situation.

Muegeln, which has a population of around 5,000, is situated between Leipzig and Dresden, in the previous East Germany. Saxony is one of the states formerly part of communist East Germany, which have seen disproportionate rates of violence against foreigners since German reunification in 1990.

Several cities within this area have had problems at football games during the last year with supporters heaping racial abuse on black football players. Some incidents saw the spectators make the noise of baboons when black players went onto the pitch.

Attacks on foreigners are far from unusual in eastern German states such as Saxony, where there are concerns that far-right groups are gaining in strength and taking on institutional roles in some places. The far-right, neo-Nazi National Democratic Party (NPD) holds several seats in Saxony's state assembly, having won over 9 percent of the vote in the 2004 state election.

Local citizens' groups claimed there was "a strategy of silence" among the authorities when it came to rightwing tendencies in the state and appealed to the State Government to stress the dangers emanating from rightwing extremism.

The mob's attack on Indians in Mügeln has created a national outrage. During the past decades migrant labour and an influx of refugees has brought a mixture of people from different races and religious beliefs. It has threatened the safety and job security of the inhabitants of the home countries.

Saxony state Premier Georg Milbradt, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, visited the town on Monday evening for a first-hand look at the situation.

News at SVM site (with pictures):
http://salemvoice.org/news227.html

Radicals attacked Pentecostal and SDA Churches and orphanage

Bangalore (India), SVM News, August 19, 2007: A group of 50 people attacked a church at Jakkur, a northern suburb of Bangalore city, where 30 people were worshipping and beat a few people on 19th August, 2007.

This incident took place on 11-30 a.m as the members of Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC) church at Yelahanka near Jakkur, were having worship service on Sunday.

Pastor Thomas Koshy, 36, is ministering in this church alongwith his wife Elsy, daughter Tincy and son Jesson since 2004.

The attackers forcely entered inside the church hall and locked up the doors and windows. Then started beating the believers. When some of the church members were injured, the attackers themselves opened the doors and chased the believers out from the hall asking them to get rid off the house before it is being burnt.

The church members came out from the hall, praising Jesus for strengthening them in the midst of persecution and gathered again in a neighboring house for prayers. The extremists immediately rushed and chased everybody from there too.

"On Saturday these attackers had warned us not to conduct worship service today ( Sunday). Even a week before these people had attacked our meeting and nothing extreme took place. But this time they made it severe." Pastor Thomas Koshy told the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

James Verghese, a freelance journalist reported to the SVM News that a member of the church lodged a complaint against these miscreants and requested police to take action to arrest them.

During the press time, The miscreants were waiting for the Pastor to come to the spot to beat him up. The House owner of the room, where the usual worship service was held, has asked the pastor to vacate his room at the earliest. James Verhese said.

Jakkur IPC is the branch of Indian Pentecostal Church of God in India. It has a gathering of 50 people where people from different language groups namely, Keralites, Tamilians and Kannada attend.

CHURCH STONED

There was a church stoned in Karnataka on 15th of August. A gang of about 15 extremists pelted stones at the Calwary Church in Ganeshpur in Belgaum breaking glasses of all the windows and asbestoes sheets of the church roof. Pastor Sajan Philip is ministering here. Camp police registered a case regarding this incident.

SDA CHURCH ATTACKED AND PASTORS ARRESTED

Around a dozen of Seventh Day Adventist pastors were attacked in Sira, the place in between Tumkur and Chitradurga on 5th of August by a mob of 50 hindu radicals during the dedication of new church. And on 16th of August those pastors were arrested and taken to the Magistrate Court by Sira police, alleged forcible conversion and sent them to the judicial custody in Chitradurga jail.

ORPHANAGE ATTACKED IN KERALA

There was an another attack to a christian orphanage at Kooliyodu near Elappulli in Palakkad district in Kerala State on 17th of August. Pastor Sam Thomas and Mathew of the Chosen Generation Ministries were severely beaten and admitted to the Palakkad district hospital.

Sam Thomas is working as the warden of the orphanage run by the ministries. Mathew is working as a cook of the orphanage.

Members of the Chosen Generation Ministries filed a complaint to the Kasaba police. They have registered a case against a neighbor named Jyoti of 33 years of old.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) condemned the attack towards IPC Church at Jakkur in Bangalore, Calwary Church at Ganeshpur in Belgaum, SDA Church and pastors in Sira and the orphanage run by Chosen Generation Ministries at Kooliyodu in Palakkad in Kerala."Attack towards christians, dalits and other minorities being increase widely thoughout India. Priests, pastors, missionaries, evangelists and believers murdered, beaten, abducted and jailed. Women are being raped. Churches and institutions stoned, vandalized and demolished. The authorities and the police joining hand in hand in many places with the attackers," Pastor Paul Ciniraj said.

"Where we have to go for the justice? Don't we have right to live here? We request the urgent attention of UN Human Right Commission regarding dalit and christian persecution and other minorities," Ciniraj continued.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news226.html

Christian, a prayer warrior and estate owner killed in Kerala

Palakkad (Kerala, India), SVM News, August 18, 2007: Christian estate owner murdered at Thathengalam, near Mannarghat in Palakkad district on 17 August.

John Mathew, 47, who was also known as Monachan of Pothukal Njettikkulam in Nilambur of Malappuram district was killed in his farm house at Thathengalam on Thursday night.

The dead body was found on Friday morning at 7.30 on the floor inside the room. Both of the hands and legs were tied up.

The slain man was staying alone in the farm house.

It seems that the murderes destroyed the door and entered into the house. There were some kind of white powder was scattered at verandah and around the house also seen.

John Mathew has 12 acres of land here in Thathengalam. Another 14 acres of land also he has at the neighboring place called Anamooli. He was involved with cultivating rubber, pepper, coconut and other cash crops.

Deputy Superintendent of Police C.K. Ramachandran, Circle Inspector Suresh Babu, Sub Inspector Hussain, Addl. Sub Inspector Unnikrishnan are investigating the case.

From the first investigation we conclude the intention of murder was not robbery. Because nothing found lost from the house. After the postmortem report only we can say anything more," C.K. Ramachandran, Deputy Superintendent of Police said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Joyamma is his widow and Shiju, Shinu and Preethi are the children. They are living in Nilambur in Malappuram district. Shiju studies for mechanical engineering, Shinu for bio-medicine and Preeti in IVth standard.

John Mathew use to go and stay with the family once in a week only. Rest of the days he would be at his estate to look after the cultivation.

"Monachan was with us on last Saturday and Sunday," his wife Joyamma told to the SVM News. "He was an active prayer warrior in the church and prayer group," she continued.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) condemned the murdership of John Mathew. He asked the government to find out the murderers and arrest them immediately. "There must be some strong hands behind this christian persecution," Ciniraj said.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news225.html

Christian groups and evangelicals seek common code on conversions

Geneva, SVM News, August 16, 2007: Evangelical groups have joined efforts spearheaded by Roman Catholic, Orthodox and mainstream Protestant churches to create a common code for religious conversions that would preserve the right of Christians to spread their religion while avoiding conflict among different faiths.

The World Council of Churches, which joined the Vatican last year in launching talks on a code, said Wednesday that the process was formally joined by the World Evangelical Alliance at a meeting earlier this month in France.

The code aims to ease tensions with Muslims, Hindus and other religious groups that fear losing adherents and resort to punishments as extreme as imprisonment and even death for converts from their faith and foreign missionaries.

The Taliban kidnapping of 23 South Korean Christians in Afghanistan last month underscored tensions. Two of the 23 have been killed. The accusations against the South Koreans include wanting to meet with former converts from Islam. But their church has denied they were trying to spread Christianity. The hardline Islamic militants freed two women on Monday.

WCC said the code of conduct should serve as an "advocacy tool in discussions with governments considering anti-conversion laws (and) help to advance the cause of religious freedom." The rules should also address concerns in other religions about Christians seeking converts, and inspire those faiths to "consider their own codes of conduct," it added.

The council noted, however, that "none of the partners involved intend -- nor have the means -- to impose the code of conduct on their constituencies, but they all trust that it will be able to 'impact hearts and minds' and allow for 'moral and peer pressure."'

Evangelization also has caused concern among the branches of Christianity because of the vigor with which Pentecostal and evangelical congregations have led the drive for conversions around the world, outstripping the growth of older churches. Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Brazil in May was partly a response to the exodus of millions of Catholics to Protestant evangelical churches.

Juan Michel, a spokesman for the Geneva-based WCC said the support from the evangelical alliance was a big boost for efforts to agree on guidelines by 2010.

Major evangelical groups were absent last year from a meeting of the Vatican and the WCC near Rome, where the idea for the code was initiated. But at the five-day meeting that ended Aug. 12 in Toulouse, Geoff Tunnicliffe, head of the evangelical alliance of 233 conservative Protestant church groups and ministries in 121 nations, gave his "full approval" to the process, the WCC said.

"The code of conduct is not about 'whether' Christians evangelize, but 'how' they do it," said the Rev. Tony Richie of the Church of God, a Pentecostal U.S.-based denomination, according to a WCC review of the meeting.

The next step in the process will be in 2008 when the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue meets its WCC counterpart to draft the guidelines.

The WCC said the code should establish what "needs to be banned when it comes to Christian mission, a daunting task given the many different contexts involved." But it should also provide guidelines for dealing with complicated issues such as interreligious marriages, the WCC added.

The WCC brings together about 350 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians.

Sensitivity to Christian proselytism is widespread among Muslims. Under most interpretations of Sharia, or strict Islamic law, conversion from Islam is forbidden.

Last week, a religious court in Malaysia ordered a woman trying to renounce Islam to undergo three months of counseling in the mainly Muslim country's latest legal tussle over the issue. In Egypt, a Muslim who converted to Christianity and then took the unprecedented step of seeking official recognition for the change said he had gone into hiding following death threats.

Last year, lawmakers in the western Indian state of Rajasthan made it the latest region in the country to outlaw proselytizing with punishments up to five years in prison. Critics claimed the laws will be used to target Christian missionaries, who are often denounced by Hindu nationalists. But Muslims -- who represent about 14 percent of India's population -- also say the measures could be used against them.

The discussions over conversions could also spill into the religious politics of Asia, including the alleged persecution of "house churches" in places such as Vietnam and China.

Paul Ciniraj, Director of the Salem Voice Ministries expressed gratitude for evangelical groups and other Christian churches in push for common code on conversions. The SVM highly appreciated the joined efforts of creating a common code. Salem Voice Ministries mainly spreading Gospel to the Muslims in India and the third world.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news224.html
Source: Bradley S. Klapper -- Associated Press

Interesting facts while India celebrates 60th Independent Day

Paul Ciniraj

1. India never invaded any country in her last 1000 years of history.

2. India invented the Number system. Aryabhatta invented 'zero.'

3. The world's first University was established in Takshashila in 700 BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
4. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans.

5. Although western media portray modern images of India as poverty striken and underdeveloped through political corruption, India was once the richest empire on earth.

6. The art of navigation was born in the river Sindh 5000 years ago. The very word "Navigation" is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH.

7. The value of pi was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is now known as the Pythagorean Theorem. British scholars have published in 1999 that Budhayan's works dates to the 6th Century, which is long before the European mathematicians.

8. Algebra, trigonometry and calculus came from Inida. Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya in the 11th Century the largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Indians used numbers as big as 1053.

9. According to the Gemological Institute of America, up until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds to the world.

10. According to the Forbes magazine, Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software.

11. USA based IEEE has proved what has been a century-old suspicion amongst academics that the pioneer of wireless communication was Professor Jagdeesh Bose and not Marconi.

12. The earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.

13. Chess was invented in India.

14. Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted surgeries like cesareans, cataract, fractures and urinary stones. Usage of anaesthesia was well known in ancient India.

15. When many cultures in the world were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley Civilisation).

16. The place value system, the decimal system was developed in India in 100 BC.

17. Vasco de Gama had an Indian translator to communicate with Indians when he invaded India. (It means an unknown Indian landed (invaded) Portugese many years before the arrival of Vasco de Gama to India).

QUOTES

We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made. (Albert Einstein).
India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend and the great grand mother of tradition. (Mark Twain).
If there is one place on the face of earth where all dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India. (French scholar Romain Rolland).
India conquered and dominated China culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier across her border. (Hu Shih - Former Chinese Ambassador to USA).
But, if we don't see even a glimpse of that great India in India we see today, it means that we are not working up to our potential and that if we do, we could once again be an evershining and inspiring country setting a bright path for rest of the world to follow. I hope you enjoyed it and work towards the welfare and developement of INDIA. (Paul Ciniraj).

Cruel punishment against woman for not conceiving

Boli (Rajasthan), SVM News, August 12, 2007: Nihal Kanwar, 27, wife of Rajendra Singh was starved and forced by her in-laws at Gangwada village in Boli of Sawai Madhopur district in Rajasthan for failing to conceive. police said on Sunday, the 12th of August.

The police authorities said this shocking news on Sunday, the 12th of August after recorded Nihal Kanwar's statement in the Boli police station, which is around 175 km from Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. Her complaint was lodged to the police station on Friday.

Nihal alleged in her complaint that she was being treated inhumanly and kept tied in an animal shelter along with goats at the back of her house. She also told the police that she was given only one chapatti to eat since July 15.

Indra Singh, brother of the woman alerted the police when he came to take her to her maternal house for a festival on August 7. He told that Nihal's in-laws had thrown her out of the house three years ago.

Nihal Karwar is now recuperating in a local hospital.

Police told to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that they have registered a case of dowry and cruelty against Nihal Kanwar's husband, father and mother-in-law, and brother-in-law.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news218.html

Christians in Kerala held minority rights protection rally

Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries

Kottayam (Kerala, India), SVM News, August 12, 2007: The Christians of four districts in Kerala today took strong exception to the manner in which the Communist Party of India (Marxist) led Leftean Democratic Front government in the state was trying to ''usurp'' the minority rights.

Tens of thousands of christians of Kottayam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha Districts participating in the minority rights protection rally and public meeting held at the historic Thirunakkara Maidan in Kottayam on Sunday, the 12th of August. They pledged to keep the rights of the minorities.

Marthoma Metropolitan Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom inagurated the minority rights protection meeting, emphasised the need for protecting the minority rights to save democracy. The Metropolitan appealed to the government to act ''consciously'' and with ''democratic feeling'' particularly at a time when the nation was celebrating its 60th anniversary of Independence to resolve the problem.

Minority rights were not something acquired through struggle but a part of the democratic system. Protection for minorities had been constitutional right. It was the duty of the Christians to protect their rights to set up educational institutions. Being an Indian it was their fundamental right and as a Christian their minority rights, he said in his inagural address.

Delivering the keynote address, Inter Church Council Chairman Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil charged that the state government and the ruling parties were trying to ''impose'' their agenda in the self-financing education sector in the name of consensus. Sincere efforts were not made to resolve the issue.

Running educational institutions was the fundamental right of the minority communities. In a democracy both individual’s and society’s rights should be protected. State Government's move to ''annexe'' minority rights and ''interfere'' in the running of aided schools would not be tolerated, he asserted.

Thomas Mar Athanasius, Chengannur Metropolitan of the Indian Orthodox Church presided over the function. Rights of Minorities not a free gift of government or political parties, but it is constitutional, he said. And it is an important duty of the governments to be vigilant against christian persecution. The life and properties of christians and other minorites are to be protected, he continued.

Kottayam Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkattu, Changanacherry Arch Bishop Mar Joseph Perumthottam, Thiruvalla Archbishop Thomas Mar Coorilos, Vijayapuram Bishop Sebastine Thekkathecheril, Palai Bishop Jospeh Kallarangattu, Knanaya Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan Kuriakose Mar Sevarios, Church of South India Bishop Thomas Samuel, Bishop Peter Thuruthikonam and other leaders addressed the meeting.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news217.html

13 year old girl murdered in Egypt during circumcision

Gharbiya (Egypt), SVM News, August 11, 2007: A 13-year-old Egyptian girl named Karima Rahim Masoud has died at a private clinic during an operation to mutilate her genitalia as female circumcision in the Nile Delta village of Gharbiya in Egypt on August 9.

According to media reports on Saturday, she died on Thursday night as the result of problems with the anasthaesia. Her death was discovered after her father sought a death certificate from another doctor.

In fact, girl's father went to obtain a burial license from the coroner's office, but the doctor there demanded to know the cause of death. He argued that his daughter died from natural causes. But the doctor became suspicious and demanded to examine the body when the father broke down and confessed what had happened.

The medical practice where the operation took place has been shut down by the police, and the preliminary investigation shows that the doctor did the operation by himself without the help of anyone else.

The Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service learnt that the general prosecutor is currently investigating the two defendants, the father and the doctor. Female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision, is a practice that dates back to pharaonic times in Egypt. It is common in a band that stretches from Senegal in West Africa to Somalia on the east coast, and from Egypt in the north to Tanzania in the south.

A government survey in 2000 said the practice was carried out on 97 percent of the country's women aged between 15 and 45 years of age. Religious leaders, usually silent on taboos relating to female sexuality, have also started to speak out against the practice, which many Egyptians believe is a duty under Islam and Christianity.

Female circumcision can cause death through haemorraging and later complications during childbirth. It also carries risks of infection, urinary tract problems and mental trauma.

Human rights groups and religious leaders have spread awareness about the hazards of the operation and asked to stop it. And Egypt's Grand Mufti has issued a fatwa, stating circumcision is not a religious act, but a social one and must be banned. Therefore it was banned in 1997, but doctors were allowed to operate "in exceptional cases."

Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi, the sheikh of Al-Azhar university, the top Sunni Muslim authority, and Coptic Patriarch Chenouda III also declared it had "no foundation in the religious texts" of either Islam or Christianity.

In June, following the death of 12-year-old Bedur Ahmed Shaker, chief mufti Ali Gomaa declared female circumcision forbidden under Islam.

The female circumcision carried out despite stiff penalties for anyone found doing so. Penalties include revoking physician's medical license, closing their clinic and time in prison.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news216.html

A group of Muslim activists attacked Taslima Nasreen

Hyderabad (India), SVM News, August 9, 2007: Noted Bangladeshi novelist Taslima Nasreen was attacked by the activists of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) at a book release function at the press club at Somajiuda in Hyderabad today evening.

A group of over 40 MIM workers, led by MLAs Afsar Khan, Ahmed Pasha Khadri and Mozum Khan, stormed the Press Club barged into the press club premises and raised slogans against Taslima.

The function was held to release the Telugu translation of Taslima's latest novel "Shodh". When the function was about to end, the MIM activists suddenly barged into the conference hall, attacked the press photographers, damaged the furniture and glass panes and some of them reached the dais and roughed up the novelist.

The MIM, which has considerable influence in the old city area, is represented in the Lok Sabha by Asaduddin Owaisi and has five members in the assembly.

Deputy commissioner of police M Madhusudhan Reddy said that seven persons including three MLAs were arrested for trying to attack Taslima. Later they were released on bail.

"I believe in democracy. I hope to live safely in this country as a democrat. The people who attacked me are in a minority. I get support and sympathy from a majority of people. I thank them," Taslima said.

Nasreen, whose works including the banned novel "Lajja" had raised the hackles of Muslim organisations, was safely escorted to the airport with the help of journalists and the organisers of the function. Several feminist writers and representatives of organisations were present.

Later, a delegation of journalists led by K Srinivasa Reddy, the secretary eneral of the Indian Journalists Union and D Amar, leader of Andhra Pradesh Union of working journalists met Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and sought stringent action against the culprits.

The Union government meanwhile condemned the attack as shameful. The Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Priyaranjan Das Munsi, said it is highly regrettable if any person is subjected to any attack whether he or she is from India or abroad. "We condemn the attack on Taslima," he said.

Taslima currently lives in Kolkoata in India since fleeing her homeland in 1994 after radical muslims described her writings as blasphemous and demanded her execution. She is facing fatwas which were issued against her for her radical views against Islam.

"Government had already provided security to Nasreen and it will be further reviewed," P.R. Roy, the Home Secretary of West Bengal said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service. "Her visa was to expire this month, had been extended for another six months," he added.

Paul Ciniraj, national president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India condemned the attack towards noted novelist and free thinker Taslima Nasreen.

Just last month, the same MLAs of MIM Afsar Khan and Ahmed Pasha and their supporters pulled out the students and forcely demanded to remove Prasanthi, a woman lecturer of political science from St. Ann's College for Women in Hyderabad, accused insulting Islam by praising Salman Rushdi in one of her classes. Prashanti offered an apology, but the protesters were not satisfied. Finally she was suspended by the management on July 16.

News at SVM site (with pictures): http://salemvoice.org/news215.html

Marthoma Metropolitan Breaking Record of Long Ruled Bishop in India

Paul Ciniraj

Salem Voice Ministries

Tiruvalla (Kerala, India), SVM News, August 7, 2007: Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostem Marthoma Metropolitan, the supreme head of the Marthoma Syrian Church of Malabar breaking record as long ruled bishop in India.

He broke the record of Bishop Jerome Fernandez of Kollam Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church. 19799 days (54 years and two months) bishop Jerome lived as a bishop. Mar Chrysostem has broken his record on August 6, 2007.

Philipose Mar Chrysostem was born on 27 April 1918 by name Philip Oommen.

He was the son of Rev. K.E. Mamman and Mrs. Sosamma Mamman of Adangappurathu Kalamannil family at Puramattom in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala.

He was ordained as a deacon on 1st of January and as a minister on 3rd of June, 1944. And consecrated as a bishop by name Philipose Mar Chrysostem on 23 May, 1953.

He was in charge of different Dioceses in Kerala and also was Missionary Bishop for many years. He was President of the National Christian Council of India and has attended the Assembly of World Council of Churches at Evanston in 1954, and at Upsala in 1968. Mar Chrysostem has been President of the different Organisations of the Church and the Governing Councils of different Colleges. He has attended the second Vatican Council and has thus made very valuable contributions to the ecumenical cause. He has deep concern for the upliftment of the backward communities.

On May 1978 he became as designated Saffragan Metropolitan (Assistant to the Metropolitan, the supreme head of the church). And appointed as the designated officiating Metropolitan on 15 March, 1999.

After the death of Alexander Marthoma Metropolitan, the previous head of the church, Philipose Mar Chrysostem installed as Metropolitan on 23 October, 1999.

Marthoma Syrian Church, traditionally believed to have been founded by St. Thomas, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ in the year AD 52.

It is an espiscopal, protestant and Gospel spreading Church, reformed from the Orthodox Syrian tradition about 170 years ago.

Philipose Mar Chrysostom Marthoma is the 20th successor to the throne of St. Thomas. He recently celebrated his 90th birthday. Still he travels throughout the church as an youngman for all of its important functions.

The church presently has around 1,000,000 members. The majority of the membership of the church is in the southern Indian state of Kerala but it has spread with the 20th Century Indian diaspora to North America, Europe, the Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, this in addition to a sizeable population in the rest of India.

Marthoma Church is in full communion with the Anglican Church, including the Church of South India and Church of North India.

Asia's largest eight days Gospel Convention called "Maramon Convention" held every year during the month of February under the auspices of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news214.html

Crime Branch Investigates Death of Christian Medical Student

Kottayam (Kerala, India), SVM News, August 7, 2005: Noble John, 21, Christian, was a third year medical student of Kottayam Government Medical College. His dead body was seen at Meenachil river by the side of Kumaranalloor Hindu Temple on 27 June, 2006.

Local police under the Deputy Superintendant of Police registered a case and said he was drowned to death.

But parents and relatives of Noble John did not believe he drowned to death. They suspect it was a planned murder. So they complaint to the Chief Minister, Home Minister and the Opposition leader to have a further investigation about his death.

They stated in the complaint that Noble had several beaten scars in his dead body. Also they said he wouldn't have had gone to the Meenachil river for bathing, for he was totally ignorent of swimming.

"We never believe our son had been gone to swim at the overflowing river. We suspect his co-students," John of Kaithottungal House at Muttuchira near Kaduthuruthy, the father of Noble said to Paul Ciniraj, Director of Salem Voice Ministries and SVM News Service. "His dead body was found nearby a hindu temple, which is very far from our place Muttuchira. That also makes many doubts who is behind it," John continued.

According John's complaint, Kerala government ordered for crime branch investigation about Noble's death. A five member team started investigation under Mr. Rajan, the Circle Inspector of Crime Branch.

Pray for the truth to be found.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news213.html

House of church demolished in India by 200 masked men

Udaipur (Rajasthan in India), SVM News, August 5, 2007: Around 200 masked men demolished a building under construction belonging to the Catholic Church at Chavand in Udaipur district of Rajasthan State in India on August 5 before dawn.

The attackers came by vehicles and totally demolished the building on Saturday after midnight around 2 am.

"We were planning to construct a school and a hospital for the villagers after the completion of the residence," Rev. Father Paul Nimana, who is the priest of the center said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service. "The building was nearing completion and only the roof was to be built," he said.

The property belong to the Catholic Diocese Society.

Rt. Rev. Joseph Pathil, the Catholic Bishop of Udaipur Diocese said that they suspecting the Vishwa Hindu Parishad behind the attack.

"The building was constructing as the residence of a priest. It was completely demolished," bishop Joseph Pathil said. "We have been also receiving telephone calls in the past warning us against going ahead with the construction of the building," bishop added.

"A certain Hindu militant belong to the VHP alongwith up-sarpanch of the village had earlier led the attack on a priest looking after the Chavand centre. The priest vacated the house by the force of those militants," bishop continued.

Several times christians in Udaipur were attacked by the Hindu radicals, accusing charges of conversion.

Some pastors and believers were attacked and handed over to the police during the month of April. More than 30 families had to flee the area when they were attacked and their homes destroyed.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the national president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards Christian Center in Chavand and demolishing the building of the church.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news212.html

Foetuses Recovered Again in Orissa near Chief Minister's House

Bhubaneswar (Orissa in India), SVM News, August 1, 2007: Orissa police again recovered at least 14 foetuses from a drain behind the Bhubaneswar Diagnostic and Ultrasound Clinic here on July 31.

The clinic is located in the posh Forest Park locality, about 300 metres away from the residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Police came to know of the foetuses after they were informed about it by members of a local youth club who noticed the jars lying behind the clinic on Tuesday evening.

"It is really shocking that foeticide is taking place in such a scale in the Capital city," a local resident said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

The foetuses, kept in plastic jars, were taken by the health authorities for examination. Chief Medical Officer of the Capital Hospital Loknath Acharya said the sex of the foetuses would be known only after examination.

Two staff members of the diagnostic centre were taken into custody for questioning, Khurda Superintendent of Police Amitav Thakur said. A doctor at the clinic fled when the police reached the spot. The clinic was sealed.

"Doctors running private clinic sometimes keep foetuses for experiment, but the manner of disposal by those running the diagnostic centre certainly raises suspicion," a district official said to the SVM News.

The discovery comes close on the heels of the female foeticide scandal in Nayagarh district where more than 150 fetuses, all believed to be female have been discovered in the last two weeks.

At least eight persons, including two doctors, have been arrested in connection with the Nayagarh case so far. Arrest of several other doctors was likely.

Meanwhile, the police and health authorities continued raids on nursing homes and diagnostic centres in different parts of the State. A number of nursing homes and ultrasound clinics have already been sealed.

Hundreds of women marched in Bhubaneswar to protest the growing number of cases of abortions and infanticides. They carried banners reading "hang the murderers" and "spare the girls" and called on the government to do more to crack down on illegal clinics that do the abortions or provide illegal ultrasounds.

The opposition Congress party has demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation and want the chief minister to resign for what they term his failure in checking the crime, as he holds the health department as a cabinet minister.

Earlier in the day, activists of the ABVP, the students wing of BJP, the central opposition party organised a signature campaign against female foeticide and infanticide by putting up a large banner near Rama Devi Women's College of the city. Hundreds of students put their signature on the banner to protest against female foeticide in the State.

"This is a dangerous situation and, if it continues, there will be the extinction of female children," lamented T. Sabitha Swaraj, president of the All India Council of Christian Women, which is part of the National Council of Churches in India said.

"The callousness in allowing female feticide is worsening. Parents have no qualms about aborting female foetuses," Jyotsna Patro, former president of the Church of North India Women's Fellowship said. "No amount of legislation is going to improve the situation unless the deep-rooted prejudice against the girl child is changed. Unless the parents want this to stop, it cannot happen," she continued.

"India is being called as 'Bharat Matha (Mother India)'. There is no word in the universe greater than 'mother', except God. Such a precious personality, mother, is the fullness of a woman. According the Indian ethics, woman is the synonym of all prosperities. Then how can we kill a baby girl? Stop the killing," Paul Ciniraj, the Director of Salem Voice Ministries said in a statement.

"It is a big sin and a curse from God to abort a child, whether it is a female or a male. They have right to live in this world. They are tomorrow's promises from God to the family, the community, the nation and the universe," he added. "According the Christian Scripture, every human being is created in the image of God. It is certainly a persecution, if we kill a baby, an innocent being of God's image," Paul Ciniraj continued.

As far as Christianity in India is concerned, women church leaders have said that some Christians are also guilty of female feticide.

In December, the Indian government acknowledged the gravity of female feticide when Renuka Chowdhury, the minister for women and child development, admitted that more than 10 million girls had been killed over the last 20 years due to female feticide and infanticide. "Who has killed these girl children? Their own parents," Chowdhury told a seminar in Delhi.

Female children are seen in many tribal areas as a hindrance and many girl babies are simply taken to remote areas and left to die. Boys are also traditionally preferred in many areas of the country as the main workers in the family and because parents often have to pay large dowries to marry off daughters.

Last December, a new report by UNICEF indicated 7,000 fewer female babies are born every day because parents can determine the sex of their unborn baby and kill her before birth. In 80 percent of India's districts, a higher percentage of boys are born now than a decade ago.

UNICEF says the resulting gender imbalance from sex selection abortions is particularly prevalent in the wealthier regions of the nation where access to the ultrasound technology easier. UNICEF based the findings on Indian census data and they follow a report in early 2006 from the British medical journal Lancet, which estimated that 10 million baby girls have probably been aborted in the last 20 years.

The results show that a 1994 law prohibiting the use of ultrasounds to determine the sex of a baby for non-medical reasons is not working, even though the Indian government has announced several recent arrests in a renew effort to enforce the law.

Some Indian states such as Punjab and Haryana face male-female ratios as low as 799 girls born for every 1,000 boys.