SVM

Bro. Ciniraj Mohamed, the Malankara Church Missionary

2008-10-13T14:26:00.000-07:00

Ciniraj Mohamed is known as Paul Ciniraj. Date of Birth: 25 May, 1954. He was born and brought up in a Muslim family named "Kochera" at Kalloor in Thiruvanandapuram, India.

Kassim Pillai, a retired Headmaster of a Higher Secondary School and an Islamic Scholar was his father. Mother was a housewife named Fatima Beevi. They belong to a priestly family of Muslim community, called "Labba family". Labba (Al-Abba) means Father, that is "Father of the Community". In Greek it is called "Abba"; also in Syriac "Labo".

Paul Ciniraj studied at Kalloor Government Upper Primary School upto 7th standard. Then Pothencode Lekshmi Vilasom High School till S.S.L.C. Took graduation from Mar Ivanios College and Post graduation from University in Trivandrum.While he was a student he involved with the activities of Gandhi Peace Foundation, Sarvodaya Mandalam, Kerala Grandhasala Sangam and Alcoholic Prohibition Movement. He was fully participated with peace march conducted by the Gandhi Peace Foundation under the leadership of Mr. C. Achutha Menon, the Chief Minister of Kerala when a communal riot was held at Vizhinjam - Poovar area in Trivandrum District..A Dalit old widow Bhargavi and her children did a Satyagraha Strike against the Government in front of Kerala Secretariate under the leadership of Ciniraj Mohamed over a year during 1978 - '79 when they were expelled from their own house at Navaikkulam by previous land owner. At last the government gave Bhargavi and family two and half acres of land at Kilimanoor and solved the problem.He used to read all kinds of religious books and was sharing its contents to others. He believed Hinduism, Christianity and other religions too alongwith Islam. He approached religious leaders of Hinduism and Christianity to learn more from them. And he made a good contact with Benedict Mar Gregorios, the Archbishop of Trivandrum, Guriu Nitya Chaitanya Yati and Muni Narayana Prasad of Narayana Gurukula, Varkala, Swami Prakasananda of Sri Ramakrishnashramam, Swami Abhedananda of Abhedashramam etc. He shared with his friends what he learned. It provoked the leaders of Kalloor Muslim Jama'ath, where he was a member. They warned against his activities first and then excommunicated from the Jama'ath. So he came out from home.

While he was out from home he had certain personal experiences and with that he approached the Catholicose of the East Baselios Marthoma Mathews I and he enrolled him to the Indian Orthodox Church as a member upon request. He studied more about the faith and liturgy about Christianity, especially Orthodx Church. Holy Episcopal Synod under the presidentship of Baselios Marthoma Mathews II declared Paul Ciniraj as "MALANKARA SABHA MISSIONARY". It was first ever in the history, a laity, who was also a converted person appointed as the Church Missionary of the Indian Orthodox Church by the Holy Episcopal Synod.On 1988 January 17 he married with Mercy Ciniraj at Devalokam Catholicate Palace, Kottayam. They have two sons Besly Ciniraj and Lesly Ciniraj and a daughter Hepzy Ciniraj. Nearby the Catholicate Palace they owned a house and sheltered.His parents, brothers and sisters visited him at his house many years after his marriage. Though he was excommunitated from Kalloor Muslim Jama'ath, he was particularly called by Imam of Kalloor Mosque by the permission of the Jama'ath Committee to attend the funeral services of his father on 2001 and mother on 2004. It was unusual and a world record that an excommunicated man from Islam was called back by the Imam and Jama'ath committee of the same mosque to attend funeral services of the parents.Ciniraj's father Kassim Pillai died on the month of Ramadan 11 of 2001. Kassim Pillai's father Pakeer Vadhyar (Pakeer Maitheen Pillai Labba) was also had been died on Ramadan 11 of 1944. Kassim Pillai's eldor brother Ahamed Pillai was also died on Ramadan 11 of 1974.Paul Ciniraj served as the President of the Baseelia Foundation, Director of the Salem Voice Ministries, Secretary of the Kaduvakkulam United Christian Committee and the Organising Secretary of the Malankara Orthodox Church Prarthanayogam. He is active for world peace, national unity and charitable works among children, poor and illiterates.

He is a well known convention speaker in entire Orthodox Church and among Indian Christians.

He has written and published many books in Malayalam. Some of the books are:-- 1. Maranavum Roopantharavum (The Death and Transfiguration), 2. Itha Ninte Amma (Behold Thy Mother), 3. Swargeeya Ayiru (The Heavenly Ore), 4. Bible Tablet and Quiz, 5. Vishudha Qur'an Quiz (Quiz from the Glorious Qur'an). He published many articles in periodicals too.

Address: Paul Ciniraj, Malankara Sabha Missionary, Devalokam, Kottayam-686038, India.

email: ciniraj@in.com

The Great Saint Parumala Gregorios' 106th Feast on Nov 2 and 3

2008-10-05T21:10:00.000-07:00

(Paul Ciniraj, Malankara Sabha Missionary, Kottayam-686038, India)

Kottayam (India), SVM News, 6 October, 2008: The Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Syrian Church celebrates 106th memorial festival of St. Gregorios of Parumala on November 2 and 3. The whole week till November 3 is being observed as 'Pilgrimage Week'. His Holiness Mar Baselios Marthoma Didymos I, the Catholicose of the East, H.B Paulose Mar Militheos Metropolitan, the Catholicose - Designate along with all other bishops of the church and other sister churches will be leading the festival programmes.

St. Gregorios of Parumala (1848-1902) is a great saint of Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Syrian Church. He is the first proclaimed saint of the Indian Christianity. He was canonized and proclaimed as a Saint on 1947 by the Holy Episcopal Synod. Many many years of the canonization he was accepted as a saint by the people of the church and the pilgrims of his tomb through his great intercession and miraculous healing.

St. Gregorios alias Parumala Thirumeni lived on a haunted island, called Parumala, on the banks of Rivers Pampa and Achencovil in Kerala in India at the fourth quarter of the 19th century till the beginning of 20th century. He was the prophet of his time, who set moral tone for his people. Powerful like Prophet Elijah and glittering like John the Baptist, he remains the beacon and a great Saint. Still his presence is there to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ by interceding for millions upon millions of people in India and abroad.

St. Gregorious of Parumala was born on June 15, 1848 in the priestly family of "Pallithatta Thanagattu" of Chathuruthy, Mulanthuruthy, Kerala. His parents were Kochu Mathai and Mariam, who had three sons and two daughters and he was the youngest one. They called him Kochu Iypera. After the birth of Kochu Iypera, his mother Mariam died. He was baptised as Geevarghese at his home Parish, Marthoman Church Mulunthuruthy. The disciplined life of Mar Gregorios enriched by prayer and fasting helped him to commune with God from his childhood days.

He had a thorough knowledge in Theology and Syriac, which he developed through his teachers, Pallithatta Rev.Father Gheevarghese Malpan (his uncle), Konat Malpan & the Patriarchal delegate Yuyakkim Mar Koorilose. His Grace was a man of prayer and made it clear to the world that Prayer and devotion is mightier than any worldly possession. Parumala Thirumeni's short life was remarkable in many respects. After the early days of education in Syriac and theology, Kochu Iypera was ordained as decon on September 14, 1859, by palakunnathu Mathews Mar Athanasios Metropolitan. He was only ten years old at that time.

One day Malpan became seriously ill with smallpox. Deacon Geevarghese was the only one who stayed and took care of him, while all others were sent home. On the eight day Malpan died and Deacon became ill. During this time he had a vision of St. Mary in his dream, descending to console him, and exhorting him to dedicate the rest of his life to the Lord. He pledged "He would". This was a heavenly vision that enables him to become a humble servant of God. Very soon the deacon recovered.

Deacon Geevarghese continued his theological training under Konat Malpan at pampakuda.Some times later, he joined Yuyakim Mar Ivanios, the Metropolitan of Syria who was sojourning in Malankara, as private secretary as well as learning Syric from him. He was blessed with the order of 'Korooyo' at the tender age of ten by Palakunnath Mar Athnasius at the Karingachira St.George church. At the age of 18, he was elevated as 'Shamshono' and in 1865 Mar Ivanios ordained the deacon as 'Kassisso' and 'Corepiscopa' by Yuyakkim Mor Koorilose. Later he stayed at the Vettikkal Dayra and led a strict monastic life. In 1872 he was ordained as Ramban Geevarghese (Monk-Priest) by Pulikkottil Mar Dionysius.

Fr. Geevarghese ministered in Mulanthuruthy church for a time residing at Vettikkal Dayara. It was here that the future Metropolitan trained his body and mind by ascetic virtues in gaining communion with God. Today it serves as head quarters of Kandanad diocese.

Pulikottil Joseph Mar Dionysios Metropolitan had established the frame of a future Seminary at Parumala in the south. Mar Dionysios soon put Fr.Geevarghese in charge of training deacons in theology and Syric. Mar Dionysios raised him to the order of monks (Ramban) in 1872.

When Patriarch Ignatius Mar Peter III visited Malankara in 1875, Ramban Geevarghese served as his secretary and interpreter, and traveled with him through out Kerala. Impressed by the simplicity, sincerity, commitment, and spirituality of Geevarghese Ramban.

The Patriarch of Antioch consecrated four (4) Metropolitans at St.Thomas North Paravur church, Kerala in December 10, 1876. The youngest among them was Geevarghese Ramban and who was named Mar Gregorios. Because of his age everybody called him "Kochu Thirumeni" (Youngest Bishop). Mar Gregorios was appointed as the bishop of Niranam diocese, Kerala. He started a monastery at Parumala, Kerala.

Mar Gregorios was a man of God, who lived not according to the way of the flesh but according to the law of God. He led a virtuous and austere life, like a monk, living on frugal diet enriched by prayer and fasting.

At Parumala Seminary he led a austere life. He woke up at 4 am in the morning and prayed till 5am. He taught deacons till 7 am followed by prayer and his light breakfast. From 9 am till 11 am he taught deacons again. From 11 am to noon he took care of administrative matters and again went to prayer at noon and then to lunch. He rested till 1:30 pm and taught till 4 pm with a brief prayer in between. From 4 pm to 5:30 pm he was busy with his administrative duties. After evening prayers and supper he taught Bible to the deacons. After the complaining, at 9 pm he would let the deacons go to bed, but he would still be praying until midnight. On Wednesdays and Fridays and lenten days, he would fast till evening. Besides, he observed his own special fasts. People came from far and near to seek his blessings and paternal advises.

In his own words "Prayer brings truth, religious faith, honesty and respect among the people. "In his life time, Mar Gregorios was known for strict observance of ascetic rigorous in the footsteps of St. Antony and had gained divine powers.

Mar Gregorios had a wider acceptance among all the sections of the Syrian Church. In the earlier part of his life, Mar Gregorios spent most of his time in North Kerala. But after becoming a Metropolitan for Niranam diocese, his activities continued in the south. Until then, marriages between people staying North and South of Kerala, were not common. On the insistence of Mar Gregorios, who had a wider acceptance among the entire Syrian Christian community of Malankara, many marriages took place among these people and this resulted in having a closer cultural contact.

Four years, the Metropolitan served the diocese and was a strong defence against the reform movement. Mar Gregorios became sick when he returned from Veeyapuram Church after blessing a marriage. Even from the beginning of his illness he knew that he was in his last days. The news of illness spread all over Malankara. Although he grew weaker day by day, his face shone brighter and brighter. It was on November 2, 1902, midnight he was ready to meet his heavenly father. He left his earthly abode and flew to his heavenly eternity.

In 1947, The Holy Episcopal synod canonized and proclaimed Mar Gregorios as a Saint of the Orthodox Church. The Saint's tomb at Parumala today is a pilgrimage center. There are hundreds of instances that proved his Saintliness. Countless people receive favours and blessings through his intercession.

The growing flow of pilgrims to his tomb, several years after his demise, tells a story of a man of faith, prayer, healing, and great intercession.

October 2 - Gandhi Jayanthi is the International Day of Non-Violence

2008-09-28T09:36:00.001-07:00

(Paul Ciniraj, Kottayam-686038, India)

New Delhi, SVM News, 28 September 2008: October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is the International Day of Non-Violence.

The decision made by the United Nations General Assembly on 15 June 2007 to observe the International Day of Non-Violence every year on 2 October – the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who helped lead India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. This day is referred to India as Gandhi Jayanthi.

According to the United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness." The resolution reaffirms "the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence."

Introducing the resolution in the General Assembly on behalf of 140 co-sponsors, India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Anand Sharma, said that the wide and diverse sponsorship of the resolution was a reflection of the universal respect for Mahatma Gandhi and of the enduring relevance of his philosophy. Quoting the late leader’s own words, he said: "Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man".

The late leader's "novel mode of mass mobilization and non-violent action" brought down colonialism, strengthened the roots of popular sovereignty, of civil, political and economic rights, and greatly influenced many a freedom struggle and inspired leaders like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr., Minister Anand Sharma stated.

The UN General Assembly, "desiring to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence," invited States, UN bodies, regional and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals to commemorate the Day, including through education and public awareness.

The first ever celebration of the International day of non violence was observed in Bangkok by United Nations ESCAP. Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister for Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs & Sports and Development of North-Eastern Region of India presided over the programme.

In January 2004, Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi had taken a proposal for an International Day of Non-Violence from a Hindi Teacher in Paris Akshay Bakaya teaching International school students in Paris to the World Social Forum in Bombay. The idea gradually attracted the interest of some leaders of India's Congress Party ("Ahimsa Finds Teen Voice", The Telegraph, Calcutta) until a Satyagraha Conference resolution in New Delhi in January 2007 initiated by Sonia Gandhi and Archbishop Desmond Tutu called upon the United Nations to adopt the idea.

Gandhiji was a proponent of non-violent civil disobedience in India's fight against the British colonial rule, which ended in 1947.

He was born on October 2, 1869 and shot dead by a Hindu nationalist in 30 January, 1948.

Mahatma Gandhi was a practitioner of non-violence and truth, and advocated that others do the same. He lived modestly in a self-sufficient residential community and wore the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven with yarn he had hand spun on a charkha. He ate simple vegetarian food, and also undertook long fasts as means of both self-purification and social protest.

India's National Anthem is best in the world: UNESCO

2008-09-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, SVM News, September 27, 2008: It is being said that UNESCO announces the Indian national Anthem "Jana Gana Mana ...." is the best National Anthem in the world.

Jana Gana Mana is worthy to be the best national anthem in the world.

It was written in Sanskritised Bengali, it is the first of five stanzas of a Brahmo hymn composed and scored by Nobel laureate Rebinder Nath Tagore.

It was first sung at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress, on 27 December 1911. The Constituent Assembly of India (Vol.XII, 24-1-1950) officially adopted this song as the Indian National Anthem on 24 January 1950.

The music for the current version is said to be derived from a composition for the song by Ramsing Thakur, although some dispute this.

A formal rendition of Jana Gana Mana takes about forty-eight to fifty-two seconds.

INDIA'S NATIONAL ANTHEM

*******************************************
Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka Jaya He
Bharata Bhagya Vidhata

Punjaba Sindhu Gujaratha Marata
Dravida Utkala Banga
Vindhya Himachala Yamuna Ganga
Ucchala Jaladhy Taranga

Tava Subha Name Jage
Tava Subha Asisa Mage
Gahe Tava Jaya Gatha

Jana Gana Mangala Dayaka Jaya He
Bharata Bhagya Vidhata

Jaya He Jaya He Jaya He
Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya He
*******************************************

The English rendition of the song goes like the following:

Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people
Oh! Dispenser of India's destiny

Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maratha,
of the Dravid, and Orissa and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
it mingles in the music of the Jamuna and the Ganges
and is chanted by the waves of the Indian sea.

They chant only thy name.
They seek only thy auspicious blessings.
They sing only the glory of thy victory.
The salvation of all people waits in thy hands.

Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people
Oh! Dispenser of India's destiny.

Victory to thee, Victory to thee, Victory to thee,
Victory, Victory, Victory, Victory to thee!.

(by Paul Ciniraj Mohamed, A humble Indian, but proud of being an Indian)

Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilos Metropolitan

2008-09-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

(Paul Ciniraj, Kottayam-686038, India)

Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilose Metropolitan was born on 9 May 1911 as the sixth son of Korah and Mariamma of Kallupurakkal, Puthanangadi, Kottayam. He took his B.A degree from Cochin Maharaja's College. He studied M.A in St.Augustine of Canterbury in England, T.H.M in Cardiff University, UK, and D.D from Harward University in Chicago, USA.

He became as a deacon in 1929, received from Vattasseril mar Dionysius Metropolitan and anointed as a priest in 1944 by His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II, the Catholicos of the East.

On 24 August 1966, at Kolencherry His Holiness Baselios Ougen Catholicose consecrated Philipose Mar Theophilos as Metropolitan. Then he was appointed as the head of the Ankamali Diocese. Many new schools, orphanages, hospitals etc. were started by him. He laid stones for hospitals at Kothamangalam, Chalad, and Pothanicad. Self employment projects for poor and School for blind at Alwaye were some of his ambitious projects in Ankamali.

On 1979 February 1 he took over the charge of Mumbai Diocese too. He initially established his headquarters near St. Gregorios Church, Chembur in Mumbai before moving out in the year 1988 to the present headquarters at the Orthodox Church Centre, Vashi, Navi Mumbai. This Dicocese spread over the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, a tail portain of Karnataka, Bahrain, Qatar and Suadi Arabia.

At the same year on October 5 he translated the Holy Relics of Blessed Alvares mar Julius Metropolitan from the secluded corner of St. Inez Cemetery to the St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Ribander in Goa.

Philipose Mar Theophilos was known as the Ambassador of the Malankara Orthodox Church during his life time. He served as the Principal of the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam (Old Seminary). And he was the architect of the revamped Seminary.

The Metropolitan ministered among university students as the President of the Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Students Movement (MGOCSM).

Mar Theophilos was one of the one of the associated with the founding of the World Christian Council (WCC). He worked as Secretary of Faith and Order division and central committee member of the WCC. He was the first person from the rank and file of WCC to visit eastern orthodox churches, which bore fruit when those churches took WCC's membership.

Theophilos was highly honored by Eastern Orthodox churches. He was the only one special invitee to attend the selection of His Holiness Peeman Patriarch of Russian Orthodox Church. He was given a grand honor when he was invited to attend the Republic day parade of Romania as chief guest along with Romanian President and Romanian Patriarch.

Philipose mar Theophilos passed away on 28 September 1997 and was laid to rest in Thrikunnath Seminary, Aluva in Kerala.

The memorial festival of 2007 was done in Mumbai under the leadership of His Grace Thomas mar Athanasios Metropolitan of Chengannur Diocese alongwith the Mumbai Diocesan Bishop Dr. Geevergese Mar Coorilose Metropolitan. There was held a four days diocesan convention too. Orthodox Church Missionary Brother Paul Ciniraj Mohamed conveyed the messages of the Gospel as the convention speaker.

86th Memorial Celebrations of Archbishop Alvares Mar Julius

2008-09-17T21:58:00.000-07:00

(Paul Ciniraj, Malankara Sabha Missionary)

Panaji (Goa, India), SVM News, 18 September, 2008: The 86th memorial day of the Blessed Archbishop Alvares Mar Julius is celebrating on 23 and 24 of September at Ribander St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church in Panaji in Goa in India. Geeverghese Mar Coorilos, the Bishop of Mumbai and Kolkotha Dioceses will be leading the memorial day celebrations.

There will be a Padayatra (journey on foot by a large number of people) on September 23 from the cemetery where Alvares Mar Julius was buried to the Rebinder St. Mary's Orthodox Church where his Holy Relics were shifted later. Cemetery is located around 5 miles away from the church.

Bishop Alvares was born in a pious and noble Catholic family of Verna in Goa on 29 April, 1836 as the son of Joseph Baptista Alvares and Marino Expectaco Lorenco. The boy was named "Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares".

After completing his studies in Rachol Seminary in 1859 he left to Bombay and there he was ordained as a Catholic Priest in 1862 by Bishop Walter Estin, the Apostolic Vicar of Bombay.

Rev. Father Alvares came to Goa in 1867 and resided in Panaji. After reaching Goa, he started an orphanage and later a college. He was a known social worker, journalist and educationist. During his stay there, he published some periodicals and through this he criticized the misgivings of the Jesuit Missionaries which was a known fact at that time. On seeing these articles, Archbishop of Goa excommunicated him from the Roman Catholic Church and he was forced to leave the place due to the continuous persecution against him risen out of the vengeance. He later escaped to Travancore.

While he was in Travancore he attracted towards the Orthodox Syrian Church. He left Roman Catholic Church and joined the Orthodox Church in 1887. Because he embraced the Orthodox Church he was persecuted by the Catholic Church and the Portugese Government (Goa was ruled by the Portugese Government at that time).

He was falsely abdicated, arrested, stripped off his Episcopal vestments and taken through the street, only with his underwear, to the police lockup. There he was put in a filthy room without a bed or chair wherein the floor smelt of urine and faeces. He was also forcibly deprived off his cross and the ring, the episcopal insigne he was wearing. He was beaten and presented in the Court.

But the Government could not prove the allegations and he was acquitted. After few days he was caught again on alleged charges of high treason but this time too the Justice found him innocent. He was not allowed to use his Episcopal Vestments till his death; he used only a black robe.

With the permission of His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Peter III, he was consecrated as a Bishop by Mar Joseph Dionysius (Pulikkottil), Geevarghese Mar Gregorios (St. Gregorios of Parumala), Mar Paulose Evanios of Kandanadu and Mar Athanasios (Kadavil) at Kottayam Old Seminary on 29 July 1889.

The new Metropolitan (Archbishop) Alvares Mar Julius was given the charge of the new Mangalore and Bombay dioceses with the jurisdiction of Goa, India (excluding Malabar) and Ceylon. Later many people, particularly the disillusioned Roman Catholics from other parts of India and Ceylon joined the Orthodox Church. Under the influence of Alvares, many from the old Catholic Church of America including one Rev. J. Rene Vilatte, a French Priest also joined the Church.

He was in Ceylon for more than five years. While He was there he consecrated René Vilattee as Bishop by name Mor Timotheos in the presence of Geevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala on 29 May, 1892. The consecration ceremony was held at the St.Mary's Church, Colombo. The Patriarch apointed Timothi Rene Vilatee as the Archbishop of America.

Because he embraced the Orthodox Church he was excommunicated and persecuted by the Catholic Church and the Portugese Government (Goa was ruled by the Portugese Government at that time). He was falsely abdicated, arrested, stripped off his Episcopal vestments and taken through the street, only with his underwear, to the police lockup. There he was put in a filthy room without a bed or chair wherein the floor smelt of urine and faeces. He was also forcibly deprived off his cross and the ring, the episcopal insigne he was wearing. He was beaten and presented in the Court.

But the Government could not prove the allegations and he was acquitted. After few days he was caught again on alleged charges of high treason but this time too the Justice found him innocent. He was not allowed to use his Episcopal Vestments till his death; he used only a black robe.

When persecutions in Goa increased, he concentrated in Canara region of Karnataka. He along with Rev. Father Noronha worked with dedication to spread the true faith among the people along the west cost of India from Mangalore to Bombay with the main base at Brahmawar and Honawar. About 5000 families joined the Orthodox Church. There he ordained two priests namely Rev. Father Joseph Kanianthra and Rev.Father Lukose of Kannamcode and a Deacon David Kunnamkulam at Brahmawar on 15 October 1911. The Brahmawar mission remains still as a symbol of his work.

Though Portugese Government dubbed him as a traitor, later he was considered by them and by all the Goans as an 'Apostle of Charity'. He started to help the wandering beggars. During the last ten years of his life he concentrated his activities in Panaji. Lepers, T.B patients, scavengers, beggars and all other destitutes became as inmates of his home.

Since he was not having any income he was forced to beg with a bowl in his one hand and a staff in the other hand for support. One day Mar Alvares requested a shop keeper for contribution. Instead of giving money, shop keeper spat in the bowl. Without getting angry Alvares told him, "All right, I shall keep this for me. Now, give something for the poor". In that respect he was very much ahead of Mother Teresa. By seeing the dedication and determination of the Arch Bishop the shop keeper contributed generously.

Arch Bishop's last days were in Ribandar Hospital at the mercy of a charitable institution, fighting against dysentery at the old age. It was his wish to be buried by any Orthodox designates but he was specific not to have any Catholic priest for the same. He breathed his last on 23 September 1923.

Since he was a well known journalist and social worker, he had a number of friends. The citizen committee lead by the Chief Justice, arranged to give a grand funeral to this Patriot and Saint. His body was kept in state in the Municipal Hall for 24 hours to enable the people to pay homage.

All the News papers were full of articles and homage about the departed Arch Bishop. The Governor General also sent his representative to pay tribute to him. Thousands of people especially poor and beggars paid their last respects.

Funeral speeches were made by high dignitaries. The funeral procession winding all the main roads of Panaji was taken and the body was laid to rest in the secluded corner (Themmadikkuzhi) of St. Inez (Panaji) cemetery on 24 September 1923 without any funeral rites.

Archbishop Alvares Mar Julius suffered alone as forsaken by everybody; just like his own Master, Jesus. As a true Christian, Alvares Mar Julius suffered like the Disciples and Martyrs of the early Christianity. None of the Orthodox Church People were nearby the bishop or resided in Goa when he was suffering persecutions.

Four years after his death, that is on 23 September, 1927, his bones were collected by his friends and admirers, kept in a lead box, buried in the same place, laid a marble slab with the inscription "Em Memoria De Padre Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares, Diue Foimui Humanitario Missionario E Um Grade Patriota" (Padre Alvares a great Humanitarian Missionary and a great Patriot) and erected a big Cross. This is still the biggest Cross in that Cemetery.

Then next forty long years nobody visited the grave. Nobody knew where he was buried. But a jewel could not be hidden for long. His Grace Mathews Mar Athanasios, the then Metropolitan of out side Kerala Diocese (Later, His Holiness Catholicose Baselios Marthoma Mathews I) during his visit to Goa in 1967, after a lot of enquiries, found out the Tomb.

It was a coincidence that the first Holy Qurbana (Eucharist) of Orthodox Church was conducted by His Grace in the St. Inus Church where the Late Alvares Mar Julius was laid to rest. As per his and the Panaji Orthodox Parishners' wishes, a small Church was constructed in Ribandar and the Holy Relics were translated to the Church by His Grace Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilose, the Diocesan Metropolitan of Bombay on 5 October 1979.

When the St. Mary's Church was reconstructed in the same place, the Holy Relics were shifted to the present Sepulcher which was specially made on the side of the Alter, by the Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Church His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews II on 6 October 2001.

His Holiness Mar Baselios Marthoma Didimos I, the Catholicose of the East and Malankara Metropolitan has declared the Rebinder St. Mary's Orthodox Church as a pilgrim place. A large number of people are blessed through his intercession. So many visit his Sepulcher everyday with prayers and offertory seeking blessings and favours

Hundreds of children dies in MP due to malnutrition

2008-09-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh, India), SVM News, September 15, 2008: Hundreds of infants under five years of age have lost their lives due to malnutrition in four districts of Madhya Pradesh in India since May 2008.
According to a petition filed in the Supreme Court by Right to Food Campaign in Madhya Pradesh, 64 Bhil children have died of malnutrition in Satna since late April.
Similarly, Spandan Seva Samiti, which works among the Korku tribe in Khalwa block of Khandwa, has reported the deaths of 39 children in the past 45 days and nearly 100 are still undergoing treatment in various government hospitals in the district. .
The Saharia Mukti Morcha, involved with the impoverished Saharia tribe in Shivpuri and Sheopur, said 16 children had succumbed to malaria in Shivpuri and five in Sheopur within the last few days because their immunity was destroyed by severe malnutrition.
Salem Voice Ministries says that there is a large number of malnourished children in all over the state of Madhya Pradesh and hundreds of children dying each month, but no action has been taken by the government.
But the local authorities and the government have stubbornly refused to accept that the deaths were due to malnutrition, attributing them to disease instead.
Kusum Mehdele, the state minister of Women and Child Development (WCD) says the deaths were caused due to diseases like pneumonia, viral fever and diarrhoea, but not due to malnutrition.
Vijay Anand Kuril, the District Collector of Satna insisted in his reply to the commissioner appointed by the Supreme Court to investigate seven infant deaths that occurred in Satna's Uchrecha block, that these were due to heat stroke, encephalitis and food poisoning.
S. B. Singh, District Collector of Khandwa, who ordered an inquiry after reports of the death of 21 children in Khalwa block were carried in the Bhopal edition of Hindustan Times also refused to concede that they were caused by malnutrition. He was blissfully unaware that the figure had risen to 39 since the report appeared.
However, the report of a survey by a committee appointed last month by the Divisional Commissioner, Indore, did concede that some of the deaths in Khandwa could have been due to undernourishment.
"I can categorically state that Jamwati, the four-year-old child who died on Thursday in our hospital, was suffering from acute malnutrition, along with pneumonia and septicemia," added Dr Laxmi Baghel, chief medical and health officer at the Khandwa district hospital. Another doctor also said that 68 malnutritioned children had been admitted to their hospital on September 4, a single day.
The NGO's were active in the state to ensure food security to the people and have conducted the two-month long family health survey to arrive at the figure of 125 deaths due to malnutrition in just four districts of Madhya Pradesh. Survey estimates that it affects in varying degrees around 33,000 children. The reasons are no mystery - most of these children belong to abysmally poor labourer families, whose daily earnings - when they are able to find work - rarely cross Rs 50-70.

Serial attacks by Hindu radicals on seventeen churches in Karnataka.

2008-09-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

Karnataka (India), SVM News, Septmeber 14, 2008: Hindu militants attacked at least seventeen churches in and around Mangalore in Dakshin Karnataka (South Canara) in Karntaka State in India on 14th of September during the Sunday worship service.
It was lead by different groups of 20 to 50 radicals armed with tridents and swords, saffron flags barged into the churches and praising the Orissa action against Christians and attacked the churches, pastors and believers on or before 11 am on Sunday. Many pastors and christian believers injured seriously and admitted to the hospitals.
After the black Saturday in Delhi seriel of bomb blasts on September 13, neo fascist groups of Hindu radicals have unleashed terror against Christians turning Sunday, the 14th of September as a black Sunday for Christians in Karnataka.
A house church at Shiroor, near Niragadh in Udupi District was attacked by a gang of 50 Hindu militants on Sunday at about 11 am on Sunday during the worship service. Pastor Abraham and his wife Binsy seriously injured and admitted in the hospital. The militants set fire all the vehicles parked outside. Seven other churches also attacked nearby this area and 12 christians injured.
New Life Church in Udupi attacked. Five persons admitted in the Government hospital including Samuel, a two and a half year old boy:
A house church in Mudur attacked by a mob of 20 militants. Pastor Immanuel alongwith the believers and the orphan children got injured.
A group of Hindu radicals face masked arrived on 2 jeeps with swords and attacked the prayer hall at Kayarphaduka in Belthangadi Taluk with swords and attacked. The radicals using the sword and cut the neck, hands, legs of 40 year old Pastor Christudas. The pastor was rushed to the nearest Belthangadi taluk hospital, but they did not admit him there and was asked to take him immediately to Mangalore Medical College.
New Life Church at Modunpher in Belthangadi attacked and 5 believers injured during the Konkini worship service. It was also reported that some property of the church was also damaged. The injured are admitted to the local hospital.
Pastor Gunasekaran's house at Moodabiri attacked. His wife and children fearing ran for their lives. The radicals destroyed all the furniture and household items. Pastor’s daughter noticed the car number and informed the matter to the Police and based on the information Police arrested two people from the group of attackers.
Church at Yeshwantpur in Bangalore attacked.
Blessing Assemblies of God church in Kuloor attacked. Pastor Samraj, his wife and 2 believers seriously injured and to Wenlock Government Hospital. Musical Instruments and church furnitures damaged. A gold chain of a lady attendee was snatched.
A church of South India (CSI) church at Kodical attacked and broke the window panes, PA system and furnitures.
Miligrais Catholic Church, Major statue of Mother Mary at Hemanagatta attacked. Radicals destroyed statues of the church and broke the window panes and furnitures.

Horrible Christian Persecution in Orissa in India

2008-08-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

Pray for the Christians in Orissa. Priests, pastors brutally murdered, Bible women burnt alive, believers killed, churches demolished, houses destroyed.

Death Toll of Christians in Orissa (exact death toll remain unconfirmed)
Kandhamal -19, Barakhama - 11, Tiangia - 2, Petapanga - 1, Tikaballi - 1, Parlakhemundi - 1, Bodimunda - 1, Bakingia - 1, Bargard - 1, Padanpur - 1.

Several Christians seriously injured and missing

Churches attacked, burnt and demolished
1. Petapanga Church, 2. Mondakia Church, 3. Rotingia Catholic Church, 4. Rotingia Believers Church, 5. Rotingia Diocese Church, 7. Gimangia Believers Church, 7. Gimangia Diocese Church, 8. Madhukia Church, 9. Raikia Catholic Church, 10. Badimunda Catholic Church, 11. Badimunda Pentecostal Church, 12.Breka Catholic Church, 13.Breka Pentecostal Church, 14. Pobingia Catholic Church, 15. Srasanaanda Catholic Church, 16. Phulbani Catholic Church, 17. Betticola Catholic Church, 18. Balliguda Catholic Church, 19. Sankrakhol Catholic Church, 20. Kanjamedi Catholic Church, 21. Kanjamedi Diocese Church, 22. Kanjamedi Pentecostal Church, 23. Jugapadar Pentecostal Church, 24. Tumudiband Baptist Church, 25. Tumudiband Pentecostal Church, 26. Narayanapatna JEL Church, 27. Narayanipatna SVM Church, 28. Muniguda Catholic Church, 29. Padanpur Catholic Church, 30. Dhanpur SVM Church, 31.Tiangia Catholic Church, 32. Tiangia Baptist Church, 33. Gabindapali Catholic Church, 34. Padua Catholic Church, 35. Maliput Catholic Church, 36. Duburi Catholic Church, 37. Tiangia Pentecostal Church, 38. Modhupur Catholic Church, 39. Nilungia Catholic Church, 40. Nilungia Pentecostal Church, 41.Boipariguda Catholic Church.

Houses damaged
1. Balliguda - 72 houses, 2. Mundasahi - 18 houses, 3. Raikia - 17 houses, 4. Gumagarh - 25 houses, 5. Badimunda - 9 houses, 6. Gimangia - 3 houses, 7. Tiangia - 160 houses, 8. Beticola – l0 houses, 9. Nilungia - 15 houses, 10. Raikia - 11 houses, 11. Mondakia - 14 houses, 12. Breaka - 21 houses, 13. Bodimunda - 27 houses, 14. Rotingia - 16 houses, 15. Sankharkhole - 19 houses, 16. Tikaballi - 8 houses.

Convents attacked and damaged
1.Sankharkhole St. Joseph's Convent, 2. Pobinga St. Ann's Convent, 3. Balliguda Mt. Carmel Convent, 4. Padangi St. Ann's Convent.

Hostels attacked and damaged
1. Padangi - 2, 2. Pobigia - 2, 3. Balliguda Convent -1

Institutions attacked and damaged
1. Konjamendi Pastoral Centre, 2. Konjamendi Janavikas, 3. Paburia Poly Shree, 4. Balliguda Gramya Pragati, 5. Raikia Ajka, 6. Raikia Xavier Institute, 7. Phulbani Niswass.

Vehicles
(innumerable)

FACT SHEET OF ORISSA HAPPENINGS WITHIN LAST WEEK
(from media sources)

1. (25-08-08) Kandhamal Dist. Yesterday at 0430 to 0500 PM, around 1000 perpetrators of Sangh parivar chased and killed 4 Christians by dagger and sword on the road whose names are ; Bikram Naik(38), Dasaratha Pradhan(38), Surendra Naik (40) and another Christian brother whose name is still not reported. The deceased were trying to protect their Church when the radicals tried to fire it. Tiangia village.
2. (25-08-08) Rev. Prakash Naik's prayer house at Raikia is burnt Yesterday. Raikia
3. (25-08-08) In Mandakia, Batingia villages the whole Christian Colony are bombed and destroyed this morning. In Raikia MP Dr. R.K.Nayaks house, Joy Mandal, Bro. Das, Santosh Naik and Santanu's houses are destroyed on bombing Yesterday at 10 PM Mandakia
4. (25-08-08) In many places till now when there is no police guard, the mob is furiously moving from one Christian village to another in C. Udayagiri area right now and damaging the Christian properties. Bodimunda, Gadhaguda, Telingia, Sukananda, Gracingia, Nuasahi, Kurmingia, Mallickpadi village of G. Udayagiri are under their attack right now.
5. (25-08-08) Pastor Khyamasila Bagh of Rudaangia of Raikia has been severely attacked and all his houses are damaged today. Rudaangia
6. (25.08-08) Many Christians in (1000 +)nos. in Phiringia are fled to the forest to save their lives but there they are under starvation now. Kandhamal
7. (25-08-08) In Jeypur, Koraput 2 Churches of Pastor Choudhury have been burnt by the radicals Yesterday. In Baipariguda, Koraput A Christian social welfare institute called "SEARCH" where 150 orphans were staying, are totally ransacked Yesterday ad the Father in charge is severely beaten by them. All Christian houses and properties of the Christians at Narayanapatna, Koraput are completely destroyed Yesterday by the Bajrangies Koraput
8. (25-08-08) Believers Church (FA) Missionary Birendra Harijan (29) and his wife was kidnapped by the Bajrangies at Naka Pola, Dharmashala, Jajpur Dist Yesterday Night after having tortured and beaten. Dharmashala
9. (25-08-08) One Christian have been burnt alive along with the complete Christian colony set onto fire Yesterday night by the Hindu extremists at Papadhandi village of Nawarangapur Dist. Nawarangapur
10. (25-08-08) Loyola School at Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar is attacked & damaged Yesterday. Bhubaneswar
11. (25-08-08) The name of the lady staff carataker at Missionary Orphan Center at Khuntapalli, Padampur, Bargarh burnt alive is Rajani Majhi (29). Padampur,Bargarh.
12.ln Balliguda at Divyo Jyoti Catholic Center at Kanjamindi, A Sister namely Mina Barua has been gang raped publicly and Father Thomas after he was beaten seriously, made naked also publicly and Petrol was put over him to burn him alive through matches by the perpetrators but it was not firing due to rain in the mean time, Police arrived and rescued both of them. Baliguda
13 A village called Khuntipalli in an Orphanage at about 1230 Noon, radicals entered, ransacked and set fire to the same today where 22 orphan students were staying with a Hindu lady Caretaker naely Rajani Majhi. Around 10 students fled to the nearby forest to save their lives. Bargarh Dist
14. Other 12 students have received burnt injuries and are admitted into the hospital at Bargarh town. But the Sister Rajami Majhi was locked by the radicals inside the kitchen and she was burnt alive there by the perpetrators. Bargarh Dist
15. Two Christians namely Jaka Naik (35) and Gapana Nayak (42) were killed in Budamaha village of Raikia. Their body is lying near Abasi Kupa road for the last 24 hours. From Budamaha village 400 Christians fled to the forest. Raikia
16. Lambar Pradhan of St. Pauls Orphanage, Kalhandi Mission, Udhitnagar was seriously injured in the attack Kalhandi
17. Dahalathadi Baliguda block 3 houses and Church burnt Baliguda
18 Bhagamunda 7 houses destroyed Bhagamunda
19. A Christian Nun was reported burnt alive by a group of Vishwa Hindu Parishad mob which stormed the orphanage she ran in the district of Bargarh (Orissa). Police Superintendent Ashok Biswall has told this to news reporters. A priest who was at the orphanage was also badly hurt and is now being treated in hospital for multiple burns. Bargarh
20. A young Catholic Nun of the Cuttack Bhubaneswar diocese working Jan Vikas Kendra, the Social Service Centre at Nuagaon in Kandhamal was reportedly gang raped on 24th August 2008 by groups of Hindutva extremists before the building itself was destroyed Nuagaon
21. Fr Thomas, director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Kanjimendi, less than a kilometer away from the Social Service Centre, and another Nun were injured when the centre was attacked. They were taken to the police station in a disheveled state as the armed mob bayed for their blood. The Pastoral centre was then set afire. Kanji mendi
22. On 24th August 2008 evening lynch mobs at the block headquarters of Balliguda, in the very heart of Kancihamal district, which had seen much violence between 24th and 26th December 2007, attacked and destroyed a Presbytery, convent and hostel damaging the 300 properties over 1500 Christians fled to the forest for safety. Baliguda
23. The mobs caught hold of two boys of the Catholic hostel and tonsured their heads. Baliguda
24. 25th morning followers of the late Lakshmanananda Saraswati damaged the Catholic Church in Phulbani, the district headquarter town. Phulbani
25. Mobs attacked the Mother Teresa Brothers residence and hospital in Srasanada, destroyed once before and rebuilt two months ago, and beat up the patients. Fundamentalists have targeted Priests, religious and also the Faithful in Pobingia also. Srasandal Pobingia
26. This morning violent mobs made several attempts to enter the compounds of Catholic Church and Archbishop's house in the heart of the Capital of the State of Orissa. They could not enter because of the police presence. They threw stones at the guesthouse of Archbishop's House, damaging windows. Bhubaneswar
27. Another group of fundamentalists entered presbytery in Duburi parish, managed by the SVDs and destroyed and damaged property. Two priests of the parish are missing Duburi Parish
28. Mr. Jamaj Pariccha, Director of Gramya Pragati, is attacked and his property, vehicle etc. damaged, burnt and looted.
29. A Baptist Church in Akamra Jila in Bhubaneswar is also damaged. Bhubaneswar
30. Christian institutions like St. Arnold's School (Kalinga Bihar), AND NISWASS report some damage Kalinga
31. Boudh (Adjoining Kandhamal): Fundamentalists enter the Catholic parish church and destroy property. People are fleeing to safer places. But nothing seems safe Boudh dist
32. Catholic Fathers and Nuns' residence have been damaged. Muniguda
33. HM Sister's residence (Ainthapalli) has suffered damage. Sambalpur
34. One priest is attacked and admitted to a hospital. Padanpur
35. Catholic Church currently under attack. Madhupur
36. Small Churches: Attempted violence on small churches in various districts, including Padampur, Sambalpur near GM College, Talsera, Dangsoroda, Narayanipatara, Muniguda, Tangrapada, Phulbani, Kalingia, Tumudibandha, Raikia, Balliguda, Nuagaon, Phiringia, Khajuripara, Tikabali, G. Udayagiri, Chakapada, Daringbadi and many other areas of Kandhamal District are extremely volatile.
37. Houses attacked on forest hamlets of Balliguda, Kanjamandi Nuaguam (K.Nuaguam), Tiangia (G.Udayagiri), Padangiri, Tikabali.
38. Houses burnt even though the district is more than 300 kilometers from the place where Swami Lakshmanananda was killed. Kalahandi Dist.
39. Pastor Sikandar Singh of the Pentecostal Mission beaten up and his house burnt Bhawanipatna
40. 3 Christian shops were looted and burnt. Pastor Alok Das and Pastor I M Senapati beaten up Kharihar
41. Pastor David Diamond Pahar, Pastor Pravin Ship, Pastor Pradhan and Pastor Bank beaten up and chased away with their families. Aampani
42.Mob surrounds village to attack Christians. The government has sent forces, it is reported. Naktikani
43. Bikram Digal and Willium Digal —two believers have been detained by the Nuagaon Police. Radicals have planed knives and black masks (Naxalite gear) on them and dragged them to the police Nuagaon
44.Regional Superior Sister Suma of Congregation of Missionaries of Charities said that MC sister of were going to participate Sunday mass, on their way to the parish they were blocked on the way and some of the youth who were protesting through stones to the vehicle, the glasses of the vehicle broken, they were also protected by the public and sent back to the convent. They are safe and no injury caused them. Dharmgard
45. 10 Shops belonging to Christians ransacked and destroyed Raikia
46. 25 Christian houses burnt at Rupagaon, Christians flee into the forest to save their lives Rupagaon
47. Christians shops burnt Paburia
48. Churches razed to the ground at Adaskupa and Sulesaru Churches
49. Christians are hiding in the forests, the trauma of the Dec '07 riots are being relived. The Women and children are starving there without food and water. Armed Radicals roaming on the village roads
50. Benagaberi village Church and believers houses are burnt Benagaberi
51. Amlapada street, the radicals are destroying the Christian houses. Bro Arup Jena, Journalist PTI's Mobike has been burnt along with few others in the neighboring houses in the mid night. Phulbani
52. Church and Christian houses have been destroyed this morning. Danguli's village
53. Church and Day Care Center have been burnt this morning. Lahabadi
54. Rashimundi Church burnt this morning.
55. Christian houses completely destroyed this morning. Keredi village
56. Church and Pastor's house destroyed this morning. Kambaguda
57. Tengeda padar village Church and Christian houses totally destroyed at midnight Tikabali
58. JEL Church and two nearby prayer houses at Talsara, Tentulipada, Sundergarh have been burnt few hours just after the death of Swamiji. Dumerguda
59. At Chiplima, Pastor S.P. Muna has been severely beaten in the midnight and his Moike has been burnt. Sambalpur
60. Mission India slum Churches were attacked from this morning and the radicals were trying to destroy and on report
61. (24-08-08) One man, a handicapped believer namely Rasananda Pradhan at Rupa gaon, was burnt alive. He could not run to the forest when others rushed and saved their lives. As his two legs doesn't function, he could not run and save himself when radicals out of rampage set ablaze that whole village and 25 huts Christians houses together last midnight Kandhamal
62. (24-08-08) The radicals Hindu completely burnt two Churches called JEL Church and SVM Fellowship Church. Narayanapatna
63. (24-08-08) The VHP radicals in 1000 nos. have created havock today Koraput
64. (24-08-08) They have forcefully detained the Pastor of the JEL Church Bro. Prabhudan Pangi (76) in captive in a locked room after firing the Church and beating him very badly with some injuries. Beside that all properties of the local Christians they found there like their vehicles, cycles etc are burnt by the radicals today.
65. (24.08-08) Houses of Adv. Pravat Kumar Bidika and his brother Bhaskar Bidika have completely demolished by the Sangh Parivar radicals. Narayanapatna.
66. In Bariniput, Kaligaon and Dhanpur villages 3 Churches are on fire. The believers houses are looted there. Koraput
67. Mission School is also ransacked by the same radicals today. Bramhani gaon
68. More than 11 nos of the Christian houses are completely ransacked and two Pastor's houses were also burnt today. Phulbani
69. This afternoon a Christian leader Ananda Pradhans house was totally ransacked along with the Christian Nua Sahi was also destroyed. All the Christian houses and Churches at Balliguda are destroyed by the radicals so far. Baliguda
70. The condition of the small Christian children during these rainy and dreadful days who are hiding are very precarious since Yesterday
71. In Mandakia village of Raikia, rampant damage has been done by the perpetrators to all the Christian families living there including which Kabita's native house is also there.
72. Tormentors are ransacking and destroying their Church and houses right now. Close to that in a forest, many small children along with their mothers and parents from Christian families are hiding since Yesterday to save their lives without food and water. Among them one pregnant sister is there whose time is just approaching and they are crying before me over a mobile to rescue them from that situation. They have not carried any clothes even when they hurriedly ran away to the forest Baiballi village
73. It is also reported that some riot expert executors of BHP and VHP are coming from Gujrat to Kandhamal to give it a final shape up to their satisfaction of completely smashing, destroying, ousting and killing the Christians there. Kandhamal
74. In the remote villages like Tiangia, Patangi of G. Udayagiri and many more where there is no Police force Tormentors are destroying and burning the Christians properties house by house right now. Situation tonight will be worst as reported. G. Udayagiri
75. The radicals had attacked the Pastor of Chiplima Church of Sambalpur Dist. and had burnt his mobike. Today they went back there and destroyed the same Church. Sambalpur
76. Bagibahal village Church at Deogarh Dist. has been burnt today. Deogarh
77. Main Baptist Church has been attacked and stoned today. Sambalpur
78. Kalinga Nagar, Jajpur Dist. Catholic Church has been ransacked today.
79. A small Believers Church at BDA, Chandrasekharpur, Siyon Sramika Slum at Bhubaneswar is ransacked today. The Christian families staying in the slum are threatened to bombed tonight. Bhubaneswar
80. Catholic Church of Bhubaneswar has been attacked and stoned twice during Bandh time today. Radicals were trying to enter by force but Police guards checked them. Satyanagar
81. IPC Faith Home Church at VSS Nagar, Bhubaneswar was stoned and front door damaged by the radicals today. Bhubaneswar
82. Actions Ministries State Coordinator Rev. Sangram Singhs rented house was ransacked today in his absence and his official papers and Christian literatures were burnt out side the house. His Hindu Landlord has been threatened to remove him soon from his house otherwise they will demolish the said house.
83. Congress Party during the course o Assembly session, has brought No Confidence motion against the BJD-BJP Govt. today. The CM is busy to clear that in their favor tomorrow hence not giving any appointment to discuss with him any more about the present situation getting to worst.
84. NISWASS, the institute of M.P. Dr. Radhakanta Nayak has been totally severely ransacked. Xavier Institute has also been partially damaged in Bhubaneswar today by the Sangh Parivar extremists. Bhubaneswar
85. An Independent Church in a slum behind May fair Hotel has been burnt by the radicals today.
86. Few Missnaries in Simar village, Baghamari of Nayagarh Dist. are hiding at present as they have been chased by the radicals to be killed.
87. The AG Pastor Pratyush Kumar Bank's rented house Church has been ransacked. The Land lord has been cautioned by the radicals to remove this Pastor's family at once. Many house Church Fellowships in Jagatsinghpur Dist. have been attacked and ransacked. Jagatsinghpur
88. Mission India Missionary Matthew Lima (28) at Jaraka Mission Field o Jajpur Dist. has been severely beaten in front of his wife by the Bajrangis this evening by 0530 to 0630PM. Finally they took them saying that they are taking him to the Police Station but ultimately it was found out that he has been kidnapped
89. Father Edward Seqira of Padampur Catholic Church, Deogarh Dist. has been brutally beaten and injured, admitted into local hospital, Doctor has referred him to Burla Medical College due to the seriousness of the wounds. There is nobody with him to attend and take him there now. Deogarh
90. In Narla of Kalahandi Dist, a Christian Pastor called Lalit Pattnaik has been severely beaten up and his house ransacked today. Alok Christian, an Evangelist has fled to the forest to save his life. Kalahandi
91. William Carey School of Dr. S.N. Patro at Janla, Khurda has been attacked this afternoon. Partially damaged and 2 school Buses are also damaged by 20 Nos. of radicals today. Janla
92. In Govindapally, close to Boipariguda, protestors entered the Convent and damaged the grotto of Our Lady and the Cross of the Church yard. In the same district Fathers and Sisters in Koraput, Jeypore and Semiliguda are in hiding. Govindapaily
93. (26-08-08) Dr. Prabin Togadia stated before a Press Conference that VHP (world Hindu Council) will organize Anti Conversion Christian Rallies throughout Orissa.
94. (26-08-08) Another JEL Church at Panasa pada, Sundergarh was burnt at O400PM today. Radicals are planning and have threatened to destroy the main Church there tonight. Panasa Pada
95. (26-08-08) At present firing is going on at Barakhama in which around 6 persons are died already and 20 are injured as per Govt. report. But at actual the casualties are expected to be more. Barakhama is totally cut off from all other corners in all means. Barakhama
96. (26-08-08) A Seventh Day Pastor namely Samuel Nayak (45) at Bakingia village of Raikia block at about 0230 PM today, stood in between and did not allow around 500 radicals to enter into his Church to damage it. Then they cut his throat by a dagger and he died on the spot and after that they destroyed the Church. Raikia
97. (26-08-08) Pastor Akbar Digal(45) at Totomaha, Raikia has also been killed at sight today afternoon Raikia
98. (26-08-08) A non Christian called Sidheswar Digal is killed by the radicals also during this afternoon at Sulesaru village for the reason of giving shelter to his own Christian son in law in his house. Sulesaru, Kandhamal.
99. In Pandarani village of Loinsingha PS of Bolangir Dist, at 5 PM Yesterday Sangh Parivar radicals completely destroyed the church there.
100. In Manahira village of Bolangir Dist. the Church was totally burnt by them Yesterday evening.
101. Chichida village Church at Bargarh Dist. is burnt by the extremists. Madhupur and Sohela area of Bargarh Dist. Christians properties are totally damaged by the radicals Yesterday.
102. A Catholic Church at Sankarakhole, Kandhamal is destroyed.
102.Badimunda Christian village at G. Udayagiri, Kandhamal is totally burnt Yesterday.
103. Breka Christian village near Tikaballi is being fired just now taday.
104. In Dodingia Christian village ãlose to Balliguda, just now the Hindu Extremists are destroying and firing the christian properties. No Police force is there protect the Christians there.

Rev. Shaji Ipe, Director,
Salem Voice Ministries
salemvoice@gmail.com
shajiipe@gmail.com

The Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) spreading Gospel among Muslims and Dalits in India and the third world countries through charities, childcare and relief services in the midst of persecutions.
Contact: http://salemvoice.org/contact.html

Paul Ciniraj Resigned from the Salem Voice Ministries

2008-08-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

Kottayam (India), SVM News, August 05, 2008: We are sad to announce that Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the esteemed founder and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries resigned from the Directorship of the SVM.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj was under treatment for "leukemia" since last January. Recently it was found that the Lord has healed him from leukemia, but he was affected by liver cirrhosis and undergoing its treatment. Doctors say cancer medication and treatments are very hard on the body and they may cure the cancer, but can create other medical issues like liver cirrhosis and other major sickness.
Paul Ciniraj Mohamed resigned from the Salem Voice Ministries at the General Body which was held during the month of April. But the General Body compelled him to withdraw the resignation and unanimously re-elected him as its Director. So he was continuing the position.
Recently he found uncomfortable in the position of directorship because of unhealthy situation, he called for a special Governing Board meeting and declared his resignation again. Then he handed over all the records to Rev. Shaji Ipe, the secretary of the SVM.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj said in the meeting, "Lord Jesus has saved me from sin and death. And Lord has chosen me for His ministry. I believe I have faithfully and truthfully done it according the Word of God by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Whenever our Lord thinks my service is enough in this world, He has to call me back at any time to be with Him. I am always ready for it".
"I never earned or gain anything worldly for my wife and children from the ministry. I hand over the ministry and all of its assests, programmes and activities to the Governing Board in which my wife or children are not the members", Paul Ciniraj continued.
"Our Lord weighs our minds and hearts. He knows all of us very well. Do not misuse His physical and economical gifts for worldly pleasures like the sons of the Prophet Samuel. Do not misuse His spiritual gifts like Ba'laam. Yet we may be reviled, persecuted and experienced all manner of evil against us falsely. Certainly It strengthen our spirituality when it comes from gentiles and outcasters. But it is very difficult to tolerate if it comes from our dear brotheren of whom we love and trust in the name of Jesus. They may be called as missionaries, pastors and evangelists. Such experiences from them will make us desperate, depress and discourage. It affect both our body and spirit".
"This so called Christians may have power of money, power of the support of foreign agencies and power of human strength which they might have bought from money or throwing them some favours and small positions; but they may not belong to God. Those are false currencies or coins. They not know what they do. The Word of God teaches that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things" (Phil 3:18-19).
"But we must careful that there are true and valuable currencies. It is indeed necessary for any transactions. That's why false currencies are spreading widely. But realise the false currencies have no value and it is to be destructed. Also handling the false currencies is a big crime. So distinguish the good and evil spirits. Our Lord allows the tares with the wheat together until the harvest. So recognise them by their fruits. Don't be cheated. Our Lord is the Burning Fire too", Pastor Paul Ciniraj continued.
"The harvest is plentiful; but the labourers are few. So our Lord asked to pray to the owner of the harvest for sending suitable labourers. In certain places, there were such a vast and beautiful harvest to reap. But unsuitable labourers got down the field and reaped some of it for their own use (not for the Lord) and destructed the rest of the harvest and soil became hard by their feet and made the fields desert. Even no more cultivation is possible. Then how can we reap? India is a best example for it. 60% of the land of the Kingdom of Israel is desert. It is not too far those desert lands can be formed as gardens. It can be possible by culturing the sea-water and make it flow to the desert lands.
The Bride Church of our Lord is called as the Israel of the New Covenent. Certainly still there are plenty of harvest to reap, but not full of harvest. Harvest must be reaped. But at the same time 60% of the New Covenant Israel also keep going on desert land. We have to sow the seed. Before sowing the seed, the land must be plouged and watered. Water must be coming from the sea as cultured, useful drinking water.
Sea water is salty and it is the synonym of sin. The religions of Muslims, Hindus, Budhists, Communists, Nominal Christians etc.around us are great oceans. By our deep faith and prayer we can culture the salty oceanic water which is sins of this world by the precious blood of Jesus and make it flow to the desert minded hearts and plough it by our loving deeds and dedicated services by the Holy Spirit and sow the seed of the Word of God. The Kingdom of God is not barren. There is no desert. There is no sea. It is the tabernacle of God with HIS Bride and He will be dwelling among us. For that we have to serve the Lord. He is not a Godly labourer, if a person comes for harvest without thinking of how such a desert land makes plenty of harvest. So sow with tears and reap with cheers," Rev. Paul Ciniraj added in the meeting.

Paul Ciniraj was a Muslim by birth, accepted Lord Jesus as his personal saviour and converted into Christianity in his early twenties while he was studying in the university. Since last 33 years he was serving the Lord and won thousands upon thousands of souls unto the fold of Jesus Christ, especially from Muslim community. He is a prominent Gospel preacher in India. Many times he was beaten, attacked, burnt and poisoned. Still he is being threatened.
Mercy is the wife of Paul Ciniraj, a member from the Roman Catholic Church who accepted Lord Jesus as personal saviour and involving ministries with her husband. They have two sons and a daughter. Elder son Besly is a biginner student of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering. Daughter Hepzy is a Bible College student as well as studying first year Degree Course. Younger son Lesly studying VIII grade in a Hih School.
Kindly pray for this family. Also pray for his good health and total healing. They have no income to maintain their family and educate their children. Due to the financial crisis, his family suffered a lot for his recent treatments too. SVM Governing Board requested him to be the Patron of the society. He did not give any reply. But we expect he will encourage us as a patron for the growth of its activities and evangelisation.

Once again we thank Paul Ciniraj and family and offer our prayers on behalf of the prayer partners and well wishers of the Salem Voice Ministries. We request his prayers and guidance again and again.

Contact Paul Ciniraj and family by email ID: mercyciniraj@gmail.com

Email ID of SVM (Salem Voice Ministries): salemvoice@gmail.com

Support SVM and its projects: http://salemvoice.org/contact.html

Indian Orthodox Bishop Thomas Mar Makarios Passes Away

2008-02-23T07:36:00.000-08:00

(Paul Ciniraj)
London, SVM News, 23 February, 2008: Canada, UK and Europe Bishop of the Indian Orthodox Church Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios (82) died on February 23 at 11 am (Indian Time 4.30 pm) at New Castle General Hospital in London.
He was held in a serios road traffic accident on January 5 on his way to New Castle airport and was admitted in Newcastle General Hospital with critical condition.
Bishop Makarios was one of the senior bishops of Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church, residing at Episcopal Diocesan House in Buffalo in New York, USA.
The immediate arrangements are being processed to bring Bishop's dead body to India. Dr. Geeverghese Mar Coorilos, the bishop of Bombay Diocese will be arriving in New Castle to make necessary arrangements.

The funeral will be held at the specially constructed enclosure at Catholicate palace, Devalokam, Kottayam. The funeral services will be led by Catholicose Baselios Marthoma Didymos I, Catholicose designate Paulose Mar Milithios and other bishops.The funeral is expected to be delayed by a few days on account of the long procedures for autopsy of the body as per British law. Since the bishop is a US citizen and the funeral is planned in India, complicated rules also will be attendant to it.

Bishop Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios was born on May 26, 1926, the son of Mr.Chacko and Mrs. Mariamma Kuttikandathil in Kerala. He entered into the priesthood as a deacon in February 23, 1951 and ordained as a priest in 1952 by His Holiness Catholicos GeeVarghese Baselios II.

His death came on February 23, exactly at his 57th year of priesthood. Also it was 74th memorial day of St. Geeverghese Dionysius of Vattasseril.

Thomas Mar Makarios was the first vicar of the Orthodox Church in New Delhi after his ordination.

Then he studied in various religious institutions in England, Germany, Switzerland and France. He has been in the U.S since 1963 and earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Nashota House in Wisconsin, a Master's of Sacred Theology from Virginia Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate in Theology from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond.

He returned back to India and worked as a professor of Church History at Orthodox Theological Seminary in India. Mar Makarios was consecrated as a Metropolitan by His Holiness Catholicos Ougen I in 1975. And he was appointed as the first metropolitan of Diocese of Bombay. Four years he served as bishop of Bombay.

In 1979 Mar Makarios was transferred as the metropolitan of the Diocese of America of the Indian Orthodox Church. Since 1985, he has been teaching religion at Alma College in Michigan. Although he is busy year around as senior metropolitan of his church in western hemisphere, he sets aside the time to come to Alma College.

He believes that he can help give students a deeper insight into the 'mysterious' insight of the Eastern Church. Inrecognition of Makarios' achievements and contributions to church and society, the college awarded him the degree of Doctor of Divinity Honorees Causa in 1990.

The American diocese was devided in 1992 as two dioceses by name Diocese of America and Diocese of Canada, UK and Europe. Since then he was ruling the diocese of Canada, UK and Europe as its bishop.

The family of Thomas Mar Makarios is noted for submitting themselves at the service of God through the Indian Orthodox Church. Rev K C Mathew Cor Episcopa is one of his brothers. Another brother, Lazarus Ramban is a monk. Sister Mary, one of his sisters is a nun.

Director and staff of the Salem Voice Ministries conveyed their condolences for the demise of Bishop Thomas Mar Makarios. Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) also conveyed deep condolences.

SVM News (with picture): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews295.html

Christian Preacher Dr. D.G.S. Dinakaran passes away

2008-02-19T22:33:00.001-08:00

Chennai (India), SVM News, February 20, 2008: Popular Evangelist Dr. D.G.S Dinakaran died in Chennai at the age of 72, after a struggle with heart and kidney ailments.

He was admitted to Appollo Hospital in Chennai on January 29. The end came at 0630 hrs on Wednesday, the 20th of February. Family members were at his bedside when he breathed his last. His body was taken to his residence at Jesus Calls for public homage.

Dr.Dinakaran is the founder of the Jesus Calls Ministry.

He was Born on July 1, 1935, he had a very tough life being torn by the ailments of poverty and agony of unemployment. Unable to bear these problems, he decided to put an end to his life at his 20 years of age. On his way to throw himself in front of a speeding train, he was stopped by his uncle who introduced him to Jesus Christ. He said an immediate peace overwhelmed him, and he went home with hope and a new purpose for his life.

Then he worked at a bank and ended up becoming a top executive for the company. Yet he had a heart for ministry that compelled him to start the Jesus Calls ministry.

Later, he had a vision of the Lord Jesus appearing to him, asking him to train lay people like himself to reach the people of his nation and other parts of Asia with the good news of the Gospel through radio and television ministries. He also started other ministries related to Jesus Calls ministry, wrote books, and influenced many people in all walks of life for God.

He is also the founder of Karunya Institute of Technology in Coimbatore.

He is survived by his wife Stella Dinakaran and son Paul Dinakaran who is also a well known Christian preacher in Chennai.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of Salem Voice Ministries conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved wife and family members

SVM News (with picture): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews294.html

Christian monastery and church vandalized in India; Priest and three inmates brutaly beaten

2008-02-16T11:52:00.000-08:00

Narsingpur (Madhya Pradesh, India), SVM News, February 16, 2008: Sacchidananda Christian Ashram (Monastery), and Church were vandalized, and the priest, who is the head of the Ashram and three inmates were brutally beaten by a mob of radical hindus at Narsingpur in Madhya Pradesh in India on February 14, the valantine's day.

The priest and the head of the Ashram Rev. Father Anto Mundanmony and the inmates were immediately admitted at Jabalpur Hospital.

Rev. Father Verghese, an Ashram member told to Rev. Paul Ciniraj, Director of Salem Voice Ministries and SVM News Service that on thursday night, a mob of 50 activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarti Parishad (ABVP), and Bajrang Dal demolished the door of 62 year old nun's cottage and tried to attack her. At this time, the priest Father Anto and other inmates rushed to rescue her; but the attackers brutally beaten them and Father Anto and Richard Danial were thrown out on the floor.

"Few days ago, we requested the police for protection. So they appointed two constables and they were present on the scene, but just helpless onlookers. They did not even call for additional police force to prevent the attack", Pastor Verghese said.

Sacchidananda Ashram was entrusted in 1986 . Its activities are Dialogue with different traditions and cultures, Inculturation of lifestyle and worship models, Promotion of Indian Christian Spirituality and Theology, Healing ministry through prayer, Counselling, Herbal medicine, Acupressure treatment and Yoga Therapy, Yoga Sadhana, Silence and contemplation for expansion of awareness, wholeness and harmony. Courses on Indian Christian Spirituality, Yoga for holistic life, Yoga for physical and mental health. But the attackers accuse that the ashram involves converting people to Christianity.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards Narsingpur Sacchidanda Ashram and its inmates.

SVM News (with pictures): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews293.html

Foreign Women Molested in Kerala on New Year Night

2008-01-01T14:08:00.000-08:00

Cochin (Kerala, India), SVM News, January 01, 2008: Foreign female tourists were molested on New Year night in Cochin in Kerala, India.

New Year festivities turned into a nightmarish experience at the Fort Kochi beach as some revellers allegedly harassed and molested some of the female tourists. When a few resisted the youth for their unruly behaviour, the miscreants beat them up.

A huge Santa Clause image was also burnt at the beach on the same night.

Police said that some of the youngsters allegedly misbehaved with the teenaged daughter of a Swedish tourist, Christon, who had come all the way to Cochin to celebrate New Year with his family.

Another foreign woman was also allegedly molested, police authorities said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Many of the tourists made a hurried exit from the beach after virtually being driven to tears by the revellers. "It was a real New Year 'bash'. Some of us were really running for our life. It is really sad," a woman tourist shared her bitter experience.

"We had a terrible experience when my daughter was grabbed by some men. This is really bad. We respect Indian women and expect the same from Indian men towards our ladies too," said an angry Christon. "Such behaviour would only harm the state's interests," he added.

A big posse of police personnel posted at the venue was of little help as they failed to control the miscreants.

Manoj Abraham, Cochin City Police Commissioner said, "Though the tourists have not lodged any complaint, police however, has registered a suo motu case".

An young man below 18 years old has been arrested in connection with the incident. And also the government has asked the police to keep a strict vigil at tourist destinations.

Paul Ciniraj, the president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards foreign tourists.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews291.html

House Church of Salem Voice Ministries Demolished by Muslim Extremists

2007-12-30T19:48:00.001-08:00

Malabar (India), SVM News, December 30, 2007: Underground house church of Salem Voice Ministries demolished by Muslim extremists at Sunnam Potty in Malabar on December 29.

A mob of 10 to 15 people came by cars and vans with spade, pick axe, iron bar and other tools and weapons and totally demolished the church on Saturday night. Suspecting the attackers were the activists of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

Around 50 people were attending in that church every week for worshipping service since last few months. The majority were individual muslim youngsters from various families.

There was a baptism service held on Saturday early morning. Eight youngsters and three couples were baptised. Though it was a secret service, the news somehow leaked out. That might have provoked the extremists to demolish the church.

The church building was leased from a believers family without any rent. That family is living in a distant place. They were threatening by unknown people since last few days for giving this house for prayer and worship.

Pastor Mildad and family are ministering in this area. They face death threat.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj, Director of the Salem Voice Ministries visited the demolished church. He condemned the incident and requesting prayers for the pastor and family, house owner and family and the believers.

SVM News (with pictures): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews290.html

Christians torturing in Orissa; State Minister resigns

2007-12-28T17:42:00.000-08:00

Bhubaneswar (Orissa), SVM News, December 28, 2007: At least 55 Churches at G Udaygiri, Nuagaon, Brahmanigaon and Phulbani Sadar were attacked and a Congress MP Radha Kant Nayak's house was ransacked in Dasingbadi in violence on the fifth day in the rural tribal dominated areas of Orissa.

Eight people killed in the communal violence was sparked off on Monday, the 24th of December when mobs led by Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists set ablaze Churches, Convents and some houses belonging to Christians. Hundreds of members of the community were hiding in forest to save their life from the attackers.

Orissa Government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the violence in Kandhamal. Retired High Court judge Basudev Panigrahi will conduct the inquiry.

The All-India Christian Council criticised the government decision for a judicial inquiry into the violence in Kandhamal. John Dayal, the general secretary of the Christian Council demanded that a Central Bureau of Investigation probe be ordered into the attacks on the Christians.

Raphael Cheenath, the Archbishop of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack said that the judicial inquiry will not lead to giving justice to the victims.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christiam Ministers of the Churches in India said, "All and real attackers can be held through the CBI inquiry".

Meanwhile, the State Steel and Mines Minister Padmanabha Behera, a Dalit hailing from the violence-hit Kandhamal district, resigned from his post on moral grounds in the wake of the communal violence for the fifth day on Friday.

Behera, a former member of the Lok Sabha told that he submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, as he was pained over the continuing violence in the area.

The Kui speaking tribal people who had been agitating in Kandhamal had demanded Behera's resignation. The tribals were opposing the demand of the Dalit Christians of the district for grant of Schedule Tribe status.

The State government also transferred District Collector of Kandhamal Bhagirathi Mohapatra and appointed District Collector of Malkangiri Manish Kumar Verma in his place with immediate effect.

Mohapatra was directed to join the General Administration Department in Bhubaneswar for further posting.

The government appointed Nitin Bhanudas Jawle, Additional District Magistrate of Rourkela, as District Magistrate of Malkangiri on place of Verma.

The State government had come under severe criticism from various quarters for its failure to contain violence in Kandhamal where the agitation of the Kui tribals had been virtually hijacked by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad following an alleged attack on their leader Swami Lakshmanananda on December 24.

As the tribals observed a 36-hour bandh starting from Christmas morning, taking benefit of the situation the VHP supporters burnt down a number of churches and lit up homes of the members of the Christian community in many areas.

The administration had imposed curfew in four towns of the district on the evening of December 25. The curfew continues to remain in force.

SVM News (with pictures): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews289.html

Two Christians Killed And 12 Churches Burned in Orissa, India

2007-12-26T04:24:00.000-08:00

Kandhamal (Orissa), SVM News, December 26, 2007: Two christians killed and at least 12 churches and several christian institutions, Christian houses and shops were burned by Hindu fundamentalists and hundreds injured on Christmas night in Kandhamal District of Orissa State in India.

Narsingh Bol, a police official told to Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that the protesters backed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) set fire to eight churches and ransacked another four. Reports say one Christian was killed in Barakhamba village and others were fleeing from villages to the jungle.

At least a dozen of vehicles including two police vehicles were also set on fire. Besides, the protestors attacked house of the elder brother of the state steel and mines minister Padmanav Behera and torched one of his vehicles

Police imposed a curfew in four towns of tribal-dominated Kandhamal district, where most of the incidents were reported.

The violence began on December 24, when about 500 men attacked a tent displaying the nativity scene that Christians of various denominations jointly put up in a small town called Bamunigam.

Nine Baptist and Pentecostal Churches and three Catholic Churches were attacked.

In Balliguda block of Phulbani district, five churches were damaged including a Baptist church, Catholic church, Pentecostal church, and a Catholic sisters' convent. Church furniture, the sound systems, and the tents were burnt. An English medium school was attacked and the computer training center was vandalised. A Christmas celebration was stopped during the worship service of Baptist church.

In Nuagam Block of the same district, a church in Kdupakia village, another church in Sirtiguda, Gosukia and Jangungia villages were assaulted and furniture and church properties were destroyed and a cross was broken down.

In Chakapad Block, of Phulbani district, a church was torched while Christians were having a Christmas feast. The food was destroyed and several were almost killed.

In Phringia Block, of Phulbani district, a Catholic church was destroyed by a bomb planted by fundamentalist. Pastor Junas Digal was tonsured and brought to temple and forced to bow down to the deity.

In Raikia of Phulbani district, shops belonging to Christians were reportedly destroyed. The Hindutva fanatics were marching in a procession and holding weapons. The Christians were ordered to stay inside their homes.

In Phulbani headquarters, a Baptist church and a Catholic church were not allowed to conduct Christmas celebrations. An orphanage run by a Catholic priest was attacked and three vehicles were torched.

Carmel Convent School in Phulbani town was attacked and the school buses and vehicles were broken and torched. A delegation of Christian leaders from Phulbani met the District Collector to insist on safety measures for the Christian minority.

Authorities say the church violence came after a Hindu leader called Swami Laxmananand Saraswati, who has campaigned against what he calls the "forced" conversion of low-caste Hindus to Christianity, was attacked on Christmas eve.

Christian missionaries have long found willing converts among India's neglected tribal communities or "untouchable" Hindus -- known as Dalits -- who still face massive discrimination.

In Kandhamal, the majority of Christian converts are Dalits.

Over the past decade in Orissa, Christian houses and churches have been set on fire, tribal Christians have been harassed and boycotted, and pastors and other Christians have been killed.

A Hindu man Dhara Singh is serving a life sentence for burning alive an Australian Christian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons as well as a Catholic priest in Orissa in 1999.

Graham Staines, who had worked for three decades with lepers, and sons aged eight and 10 died when a Hindu mob torched a jeep in which they were sleeping.

Sectarian clashes break out periodically in the billion-plus country of multiple faiths, where approximately 2.3 percent are practising Christians.

As the communal fire in Orissa continues to spread, senior Christian leaders met the Prime Minister and requested him to intervene to curb the attacks on the minority community by mainly the fundamentalist Hindu groups in the state.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj, the president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries rged the central and state government authorities to protect the lives and properties of Christians, Dalits and other minority communities in Orissa

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews288.html

Bomb Attack on Christian Educationist in Tamil Nadu

2007-12-13T19:17:00.000-08:00

Tirunelveli (Tamil nadu, India), SVM News, December 13, 2007: A popular Christian educationist and philanthropist was injured in a bomb attack alongwith his wife and driver on December 12 at Vadakkangulam in Tamil Nadu, India.

Dr. S.A. Raja, chairman of the Selvam Educational Charitable Trust, and Rajas Educational Charitable Trust was attacked with country bombs on Wednesday morning by a gang of six in an Ambassador car and on a motorbike.

Dr. Raja and his wife Sofia were returning back to home from Valliyoor Malaimatha Church after attending the Holy Mass.

Raja’s car driver Amirthalingam (45) seriously injured in the attack and hospitalised. Raja and Sofia escaped with minor injuries.

Radhapuram police registered a case and started investigation.

A police official said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that the police recovered two live bombs from the spot.

One of the accused is said to be around 25 years of age. He had enquired from Amirthalingam whether Raja would be attending the mass.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the bomb attack towards Dr. S.A. Raja and family. He asked the Central and State governments for immediate action to stop Christian persecution.

SVM News (with picture): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews287.html

Pastor's six family members killed by accident in Kerala

2007-12-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala, India), SVM News, December 10, 2007: A parish priest of Church of South India and five others of his family members were killed when the car in which they were travelling collided with a transport bus near Chavara bridge in National Highway in Kollam District in Kerala, India on December 10.

Rev. Selestine Raj (40), the parish priest of Kattakkada Bethanipuram CSI Church in Thiruvananthapuram District and his wife Lena Selestine (35), daughters Reshma (12) and Roshna (7), relatives Lazur (66) and wife Lissy (60) of Lalbhavan at Mannarkonam were died by accident on Monday at about 4 in the evening.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that the pastor's car collided with a Transport bus while they were retuning back after attending a marriage function in Kochy. Bus belongs to Kerala State Road Transport Corporation was going towards Kochy from Thiruvananthapuram.

Lazur and Lissy are the father and mother of Mrs. Lena Selestine.

Church of South India follows the traditions of Anglican low Church.

Paul Ciniraj, President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries offers condolences to the bereaved pastor and his family. CMCI prays that God May Grant peace and consolation to the parishoners and relatives of Rev. Selestine Raj.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews286.html

Indian origin NYPD Officer shot dead in New York

2007-12-07T13:07:00.000-08:00

New York (USA), SVM News, December 07, 2007: An off-duty New York City Police Officer of USA, who belongs to an Indian Christian family of Kerala, was found shot dead in his house at 60 Whiteman Road in Yonkers on December 5.

Joseph John, 29, found dead from a single gunshot wound to the head on Wednesday at about 11 at night. He was a three-year veteran of the NYPD assigned to the 43rd Precinct in the Bronx.

Joseph John was the son of John George and Thresiamma, who were hailed from Cherukole, near Mavelikkara in Kerala State, India to USA about 33 years ago.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that the New York police investigating the circumstances surrounding Joseph's death.

Capt. Fred Hellthaler of Yonkers police said that they had responded to a 911 call from victim's family, which had heard the gunshot. His mother and wife were at home at the time of the shooting. Police added.

Joseph John was active in prayer services and other church activities of Yonkers Marthoma Church as well as social, cultural and charitable works in New York, especially among Indians.

The viewping of the dead body will be having at Yonkers Marthoma Church, 34 Morris Street in between 3.30 to 9.30 pm on December 7. Funeral services also will be held at Yonkers Marthoma Church on December 8 at 8.45 to 10.45 in the morning and will be buried with all of the honourship of the police at Mount Hope cemetery at Jackson Avenue in Yonkers.

SVM News (with picture): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews285.html

Missionary pastor of 54-year-old shot dead in Trinidad

2007-12-06T10:36:00.001-08:00

Rousillac (Republic of Trinidad and Tobago), SVM News, December 06, 2007: A missionary pastor of a Full Gospel Church shot dead on December 5 at his residence in Rousillac in Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Lenville Regis (54), an evangelist of Rousillac Open Bible Church and also an ordained pastor was shot dead by a gunman at his house on Wednesday morning.

Pastor Regis was also a retired technician of Telecommunication Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT).

Regis wedded June, a lecturer at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) four months ago and was living at Ibis Circular of Paria Gardens in Rousillac. It was his second marriage with June His children are living abroad.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that the gunman stormed the couple's house at about 9.30 in the morning. June was on the phone at that time.

The attacker forced husband and wife into a bedroom where he made them lie on the ground with June Regis being secured with a length of electrical cord. Then he forced the pastor into a nearby bathroom and a gunshot behind his head and murdered at once.

"The gunman ran out of the house while a frantic Mrs June freed herself only to find her husband dead in the bathroom," police officials said.

Nothing was stolen from the house.

The body was taken to the Forensic Science Centre where an autopsy was scheduled to have been done. Investigations are continuing.

SVM News (with picture): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews284.html

Imam's daughter, a convert to christianity, face death threat in UK

2007-12-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

Lancashire (UK), SVM News, December 06, 2007: A 32-year-old woman, converted to Christianity from Islam about 15 years ago still facing death threats from family and relatives and British police compelled to give her protection.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that Hannah (using pseudonym to hide her identity), daughter of a Muslim Imam in Lancashire ran away from home in the year 1991 at the age of 16, when her parents arranged a marriage for her which she never liked.

Henceforth she studied christianity, accepted Jesus as her personal saviour, married with a spiritual partner and witnessed Christ to the churches and fellowships. But she was attacked with knives, axes and hammers in 1994 by a group of fundamentalists and was hiding from her home. She had been moved house 45 times to escape detection since she became a Christian.

The threats against her became more serious a month ago, prompting police to offer her protection in case of an attempt on her life.

The latest threat was a text message from one of her brothers, warning that he could not be responsible for his actions if she did not return to Islam.

"I know the Koran says that anyone who goes away from Islam should be killed as an apostate so in some ways my family are following the Koran. They are following Islam to the word. But I do not think every Muslim would actually act on that," Hannah said.

The Times reports that the Muslims in Britain who wish to convert to Christianity are living in fear of their lives because of Islamic apostasy laws, a senior Church of England bishop will warn at the invitaton-only charity event in West London.

Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester, will claim that "freedom to believe" is under threat in Britain because of Islamic hostility to conversion. He will call on society to offer greater protection, by increasing understanding of what makes people vulnerable.

Earlier this year, a Policy Exchange study found that 36 per cent of British Muslims aged between 16 and 24 believed those who converted to another religion should be punished by death.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews283.html

Pastor shot dead in Guyana at the end of Crusade

2007-12-04T14:57:00.000-08:00

Georgetown (Guyana), SVM News, December 04, 2007: A 41-year-old pastor shot dead at his church right after a Gospel Crusade on December 2 at Hadfield Street in Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana.

Pastor Eion David of the Prophecy One Delivery Ministry Church was shot twice by a lone gunman on Sunday late night when he and the church leaders were counting the offering collected from the crusade. Pastor died on Monday morning while being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that Shaundell Williams, who is the daughter of Pastor Eion David said the gunman entered the church with his face covered with a handkerchief and wearing a cap, and ordered everyone to lie on the floor and she thought it was a church member pulling a prank.

"I never in my wildest dreams thought someone would come into a church and carry out a robbery. It was not until he ordered everyone on the floor the second time that I knew it was serious; and he pulled out a gun," Shaundell said. "The robber made good his escape with an undisclosed sum of cash, a small amount of jewellery and a car key belonging to my husband Alwin Williams, who was also injured during the ordeal," she added.

Officials of the Guyanese Police Criminal Investigation Department said that Pastor Eion David sustained a gunshot wound to the head and another to the chest. The police have recovered two. 32 spent bullets from the scene.

Police authorities have taken statements from the members of the church about murdered pastor. They said they could not think of a motive for the attack since as far as they know the pastor had no grievance with anyone.

Guyana is the third smallest country in South America, lieying between Suriname to the east and Venezuela to the west, with Brazil to the south. Below 700,000 is its total population and half of it Christians. Rest of the population, 35% Hindus, 10% Muslims and others 5%. English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi and Urdu are the languages.

Nearly 20,000 people living with with HIV/AIDS in Guyana.

SVM News (with picture): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews282.html

Gospel Campaigner severely beaten in Kerala

2007-12-02T04:07:00.000-08:00

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala, India), SVM News, December 01. 2007: A mob of Hindu radicals attacked Gospel convention and beaten Gospel campaigner on December 1 at Koliyakkodu, near Pothencode in Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala, India.

Pastor Lazarus, native of Vellarada was severely beaten on Saturday evening and admitted in Medical College hospital with serious injuries.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that around 20 to 30 people shouted Hindu slogans and attacked the pastor while he was preaching the Gospel at Indian Pentacostal Church at Koliyakkodu.

Venjaramoodu police investigating the issue.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards pastor Lazarus.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews281.html

Pastor Jailed, Rector Arrested and 40 Detained in China

2007-11-28T00:22:00.001-08:00

Gansu (China), SVM News, November 28, 2007: In China, a christian pastor was sentenced 18 months imprisonment for distributing tracts in Gansu province and a rector of a Catholic seminary and one of his seminarians arrested and jailed in Yujiang. 40 house church leaders also were detained in Henan.

Pastor Liu Huiwen (38) was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment by Gansu Dongxiang Nationality Autonomous County People's Court on October 25, 2007 for Distribution of Christian Literature Among Muslims. The document released by the court on November 27.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that Pastor Liu Huiwen was detained on April 28, 2007 after distributing flyers at a funeral and was arrested on May 31. He was charged against discriminating work and insulting people of ethnic minorities when he published and distributed a flyer called "A Letter to Our Muslim Friends."

Beijing Defence Attorney Li Dunyong, the defense counsel for Pastor Liu, argued that his public letter neither contain any discrimination or insults against people of ethnic minorities nor exceeded the boundary set for freedom of speech.

But the court rejected his arguments and said Pastor Liu's public letter arised indignation from the Muslims and some of them used curse words and threatened to physically assaulted him, so he fled from the scene. After that, the police officers arrived on being informed of this incident and took Liu Huiwen to the public security bureau. In the meantime, the police officers confiscated 153 copies of the public letter that they collected from the people in the local area and confiscated 9,000 copies of the public letter, 523 copies of the Bible, 1,745 discs and some tapes and propaganda photos and other objects from the room Liu rents.

Cout said Liu's conduct has violated the provisions set in Article 250 of "The Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China" and constitutes the crime of publishing works that discriminate against and insult people of ethnic minorities. And the court has sentenced him 18 months imprisonment as per Article 210 and Article 64.

In the southern province of Guangdong in Central China, a Roman Catholic priest, Father Zeng Zhongliang, rector of the Yujiang diocese seminary in Jiangxi and one of his seminarians, Wang Bin were arrested by the police on November 25. Both are being held in a prison in Yujiang.

Fathr Zeng had organised a meeting with the entire diocesan clergy at Fuzhou town, whose members are mostly affiliated with the underground Church. He acted on behalf of his local bishop Mgr Thomas Zeng Jingmu of 85-years of age who has been under house arrest.

The diocese of Yujang has about 15,000 underground Catholic believers and priests; Catholics that is who are not registered with the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and therefore not recognised by the government.

In another incident of christian persecution in China, a group of PSB officers raided China Gospel Fellowship (CGF) and detained 40 house church leaders while they were having a Bible class on November 18 at Peichang village of Fanhu town in Xiancheng county in Henan

"CGF is one of the largest house churches in China. All the detainees were the senior leaders of CGF and among them Pastor Shen Yiping, it's founder also included," Bob Fu of China Aid Association said.

Out of 40 detained leaders, 21 of them were released on November 24 and 19 are still being detained at the county detention center.

The family members of the 19 detainees were notified by the Police Department to send blankets and 360 yuan ($50) for 15 days' living expenses.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews280.html

Ten churches face crisis of eviction in Behrain

2007-11-26T11:08:00.000-08:00

Manama (Behrain), SVM News, November 26, 2007: At least ten churches including two episcopal churches and seven pentecostal churches in Behrain face severe crisis of eviction in Manama. Government authorities have given them two weeks to come up with documents that show they have been given permission to operate in Behrain.

The St Paul's Mar Thoma Church and the Church of South India (CSI, which follows Anglican hierarchy) are the two episcopal churches.

Pentecostal churches are Sharon Fellowship Church, Church of Philadelphia, Immanuel IPC (Indian Pentacostal Church) church, Church of God, Assemblies of God (AG) church, The Pentecostal Mission (TPM) and The Word of Life Church.

Church of Christ is the other one.

Abdulmajeed Al Sebea'a, municipal councillor of Manama claims some of the churches in Segaiya don't have a licence from the Manama Municipality, the Social Development Ministry or the Justice and Islamic Affairs Ministry.

Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty has now called a meeting of the churches at his office to study the issue in detail. Representatives of the churches requested him in a letter to take up the issue on an urgent basis.

Shetty wanted to know whether the main issue relates to parking problems that the churches are causing, or if it was simply that they are not registered. "I have to study the issue in detail before taking it up with the authorities concerned," Shetty said.

"Some of the churches have applied for registration that would legalise their existence, but are still waiting for a response," said Pastor P.C. Verghese, president of the Sharon Fellowship Church. "We appreciate the magnanimity of the landlords in this area who have been supporting us for conducting prayer meetings in their buildings," he continued.

"We, Indian Christians have been worshipping in Behrain for a long time as different Christian groups," Alexander, one of the leaders of a church said the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service. "We would like to confirm that we don't have any business other than worshipping God. We do not disturb the neighbours. We have also made necessary parking arrangements without causing any problem to neighbours or local friends in the area," they added.

Out of the 10 churches, half of them are understood to have registered with the Social Development Ministry.

Municipal Councillor Al Sebea'a revealed that he had been contacted by a number of church heads - some saying they can prove their legal status and other asking him for help in getting registered within the next two weeks. He said he had also received letters from Christians in Bahrain.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries urging Manama Municipailty and Social Development Ministry through an advocate to find an immediate and amicable solution in favour of Christians rather than evict the churches. Otherwise, the fanatics may misuse the situations and persecute christians.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews277.html

Iraqi couple beheaded for wearing western clothes

2007-11-25T18:32:00.000-08:00

Bagdad (Iraq), SVM News, November 26, 2007: Three suspected al-Qaida militants, including two sisters, beheaded their uncle and his wife, forcing the couple's children to watch, Iraqi police said Friday.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that Youssef al-Hayali and his wife Zeinab Kamel were executed at the All Boys School in Jalawlah in Diyala province of North-West of Bagdad by three cousins, who are Jihadists on November 23.

Youssef al-Hayali was a school guard.

Village police chief Ahmed Khalifa said that the police arrested the assialants from Divyala province, northwest of Bagdad.

The militants considered Hayali was an infidel because he did not attend for namaz (worship) at the mosque. Also they found the couple wearing western-style trousers and clothes, they told police interrogators after being arrested.

SVM News (with picture): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews276.html

Catholic Priest beaten by Police in Kerala, India

2007-11-21T04:35:00.000-08:00

Alappuzha (Kerala, India), SVM News, November 21, 2007: Roman Catholic Priest was beaten by a Deputy Superintendant of Police (DySP) on November 21 in Alappuzha Town in Kerala, India.

Rev. Father Edward Puthanpurackal was beaten and pushing down by DySP A. Krishnam Kutty on Wednesday before noon. Father fell on the road.

Five Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM) activists also were beaten by the police.

Father Edward and KCYM activists was planning to have a new form of strike by rolling on the road from Shavakkotta bridge to Alappuzha Collectorate against not finishing the works of Chethi Bridge.

"Police told them not to allow strike by rolling on the road, but procession. Father Edward and KCYM activists still tried to goahead with their decision." An official told to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

"KCYM organising another major rally towards Alappuzha North Police station against beating priest," a KCYM member told to SVM News.

Paul Ciniraj, President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) condemned the incident

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews274.html

Church demolished in Chattisgarh in India

2007-11-21T02:57:00.001-08:00

Jagdalpur (Chatisgarh, India), SVM News, November 21, 2007: A church that involving with development activities of the tribals was demolished by the activists of Sangh Parivar and Bajrang Dal on November 19 at Manduwa village near Kondagaon of Bastar District in Chattisgarh State in India.

A mob of Hindu radicals attacked Pastor Sudharu of Manduwa Church and burnt the newly constructed church on Monday about 10 at night alleging against converting people, specially tribals to Christianity.

"The attackers surrounded pastors room first, tied the pastor and beaten him up till he became unconcious," Mahesh Minj, a member of the church said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

While this time some other assailants were burning the church. Their plan was to burn alive the pastor and the people who were inside of the church building. But those who were with the pastor from his church escaped somehow. And also the church building did not burn completely. So the attackers demolished the remained parts of the church.

Korla Police registered a case and started investigation.

Rev. Rajan, the Missionary Chief of Jagdalpur area, said that the missionaries working with them do not involve any conversion activities, but working for the development of the tribals. "Yet, we face regular threat from Hindu fanatics." He said.

Paul Ciniraj, the president of the Christian Mibnisters of the Churches of India (CMCI) and Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned attack towards pastor Sudharu and demolishing the church.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews273.html

RON WYATT AND THE ARK OF THE COVENANT CHAMBER Late 1999

2007-11-18T18:45:00.000-08:00

(Death bed interview conducted by the late Bill Fry. Ron died shortly after)
Audio available from John Paige P.O. Box 30 Serpentine 3517, Victoria, Australia

Bill Fry: okay, the recorder's on right now, so you can go ahead and just basically tell me what happened.

Ron Wyatt: Oh, okay. Well, on the excavation there, that, you know, for the ark of the covenant, primarily I was interested in just the ark of the covenant. However, when I did the excavation down the cliff face, I ran into cut-outs and we ran into crossholes, and the bottom of this ancient quarry that showed that this was a crucifixion and execution spot. The Romans crucified people there, of course. The Jews, because of some of their special arrangements with the Romans, they basically stoned people there and beat them as examples, that's what took place there. Anyway, once we found that place, I knew that, well, basically, that I needed to get inside that escarpment, because there were several indications that it was just a system of tunnels and chambers, and that I needed to, basically, just go chamber by chamber, tunnel by tunnel, and whatever, systematically go through there, until I found the ark of the covenant, or until I didn't find it. And so, anyway, we found it on January 6th, 1982 at approximately 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

And so, when I found it, it was in a situation that I had not anticipated or expected, that was that it was in a chamber that was totally filled with what appeared to be debris. And what turned out to be a bunch of materials of furnishings of the first temple, covered first by animal skins, then that covered by boards, and then these covered by stone, just whatever they could get their hands on, looked like. It looked like it had been done in a hurry, looked like they just grabbed everything, whatever they could get to fill the place, and I was still a little fuzzy on why that would be done, but I don't see that I need to know everything. When God does something I just know it's done perfectly, so. On the occasion of my fourth visit into the area, I was gonna make another attempt at getting some video footage.

Bill Fry: Get some what?

RW: I was going to make an attempt to get some video footage.

Bill: Oh, okay

RW: Up to that time I had not had any success with any kind of reproduction attempt that I made. That included Polaroid cameras, 35 mm cameras, a VHS camera, video system. So anyway, I went into the chamber and lowered myself in there, and of course, there, the thing that became apparent immediately was that the place was totally cleaned. Somebody had done what I had decided that I was going to have to do, and that was to clean every, haul the debris and everything out. And I guess I should say a couple of words here, that the ark of the covenant was not covered in all this debris like everything else was. It was in a separate container, within walls, a stone box. And this extended from the floor, which I didn't know at the time, the dimensions or whatever, but anyway the box extended up to within approximately three inches of the ceiling.

BF: Was it sitting on top of something else?

RW: Well, the fact of the matter was, Bill, that I never did get in there and measure everything, and so I really don't know.

BF: Okay

RW: Looking back on that, I would have had to have been there when the cleanup took place in order to know all of that, and I simply was not there. But anyway, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat, was set in a manner under the crack that came down, that extended down from the crucifixion site above, so that the blood went on the top of the mercy seat, and then, anyway when it was all cleaned up and situated, positioned, it still appeared to be in that same position even though it was no longer in the box. And there are several things that are rather remarkable about what had happened there: the place was cleaned up, and the ark of the covenant was sitting against the wall at the east end of the cave, and the cave is not perfectly oriented east, west, north, or south, it's just on the eastern end, basically, of that. Behind this is this crystalline wall that emits the colors of the rainbow.

BF: This is the wall behind the ark?

RW: That's correct. It's a vertical, vertical wall.

BF: Now the ark was facing you if you were standing looking at it, is that correct?

RW: Yes, that is correct, at that point in time. And I got a phone call on this that I'll share which was kind of unusual, it's one of the things that made me decide to talk about it, to say something about it. And that is, that I got a phone call from this fellow, and he says, "Ron," he says, "would you describe what the ark of the covenant, what it looked like, to me?" And I said, "Well, I don't do that." And I have a... you know, I just haven't done that. And so, anyway, I said, "Why do you ask?" and he seemed a little distressed with the whole thing, you know, and he said, "Well, I had a dream." and I don't remember if it was the night before I was talking to him, or that day, or, anyway, it hadn't been too long since he had had this dream, and he said, "I've been praying since I heard about the ark of the covenant, that the Lord would let me see what it looked like, I just felt a real burden to see what it looked like," and he said, "I had this dream, and I was in this chamber in this dream," and he said, "The ark of the covenant was right in front of me." basically, and he said, "However, the wall behind the ark of the covenant," and he described it perfectly, you know

BF: Like what you'd seen.

RW: Right. And he said, "I got so distracted by the colors and all the rest of this rainbow, that I did not look and zero in on the ark of the covenant." and he said, "the dream went away without my having had a good look at the ark of the covenant." So that was a bit of a surprise, and an (observant?) one, I might add, that indicated that God, you know, wanted people to, didn't mind people having a description of it, at least, and at least this one fellow. He didn't seem any more unusual or different than anyone else, and there were several other people that have asked. And he seemed to be an honest guy and all of that, and I don't think he could have made that description without having seen it, there's no way it could have happened.

So anyway, I at that point said, "Well, just be grateful that you got to see inside the chamber, because I'll verify that's what it looks like." But then I said, "I guess that I probably ought to do something to give a general idea of what the ark of the covenant looked like. So at the time I decided to get Jim Pinkoski to work me up some (drawings), you know? And so, anyway, back to the experiences, when I got in there, the light, the room has its own light, and I made that inference that it didn't happen until I had gotten inside the chamber and was just standing on the floor of the chamber. I did all my gettin' in in the dark, so when the thing's kind of lighted up, I was really shocked by what I saw, that is the place had been cleaned out, and that there were four people in there. And so basically, I was going to ask, "What are you doing in here?" because I'm the only one I knew of that had permission or the right to be in there, and at that point, I became aware that my physical condition was altered so that I knew I was in the presence of angels, you know, that these were not just people, because I couldn't breathe, I couldn't move, I couldn't talk, couldn't do anything. And so, anyway, at that point, just basically keep in mind that I was very, very ??scorned?? by the whole thing. So the one angel talked to me and briefly said that they had been watching over the ark of the covenant since Moses had put the tables of stone in there, and that God wanted everyone to see this at a particular time. And so, anyway, he told me to set up my, um

BF: your video camera?

RW: yeah, to set that up on a tripod, and which I set up primarily because it had been kind of drummed into my head that "you would've got a better picture if you used a tripod," so anyway, I set this all up and aimed it at the ark of the covenant. At that point I turned it on and went on to the angels went and took the corners of each of the ark, of the mercy seat, and lifted it, and the one angel that talked with me said, "Get the tables of stone out of the ark of the covenant." So I went over and leaned down, and took them out.

BF: Ron, could you speak up? I'm having just a little bit of trouble hearing you.

RW: Okay, I'm sorry. Yeah, I leaned in and picked up the tables of stone and backed away, and they lowered the mercy seat back into position. And then I just stood there with the tables of stone, and the angel came and got them, and took them from my hands, and put them on a stone shelf, or ledge, whatever.

BF: Right there next to the wall?

RW: Right, you know it's part of the wall right near the exit.

BF: The original exit?

RW: Yeah.

BF: So that would be, I guess, on the south side?

RW: Uh huh.

BF: Okay

RW: The south side. And so, anyway, the

BF: Now, let me ask you a question here.

RW: Okay

BF: Cause when you told me this before, you know, you told me you took the tables of stone out, and then the angel told you something about the tables of stone.

RW: Yeah, he told me that it had to do with when these were to be shown to the world.

BF: Right

RW: Two things were stated, one that if I was faithful I would have the privilege of sharing this, and the second was that when the mark of the beast law was in force, that shortly after that, was when this would take place.

BF: Okay

RW: And here is a little bit of a conundrum: it wasn't stated as the mark of the beast law, it was stated, "when the Sunday law," but I tell people, and I think it's wiser to tell people that, since it's not lying or deceiving, is that when the mark of the beast law is in force.

BF: Right. But the angel said "Sunday law"?

RW: That's right.

BF: Okay. Well, I'll certainly do it that way.

RW: OKay. And so...

BF: Now, if I remember correctly, at that point you said, I don't, you didn't know what to do with the tables of stone, because you were holding them.

RW: Well, I didn't, what the thing I didn't know what to do with was later, was after I had taken the video back to my room and checked it to make sure that I had the you know, video.

BF: Yeah

RW: I didn't know what to do with that. So I went back to the cave to ask the angel what I should do with that, and he said I should put it on the tables of stone.

BF: Right on the shelf

RW: Yeah, and on top of the tables of stone, they were both there.

BF: And as far as you know, that's where they are today.

RW: That's right, as far as I know.

BF: Okay. Now, did the angel indicate any kind of sign that you would be given other than the mark of the beast law?

RW: Uh, no.

BF: Okay. Okay, I kind of got you off track, okay, after he took the tables of stone and put them on the niche near the original exit, I kind of interrupted you there. What happened after that?

RW: At that point I left through the old entrance.

BF: The original entrance?

RW: Right

BF: And was that the first time you had been through it?

RW: That was the first time I had been through it. BF: So that's how you ended up finding that. RW: Uh huh. BF: Okay, they apparently had cleaned that out, too. RW: Well, it had, they had cleaned that one out, yeah. I had done some work prior to this, but my work, uh, apparently, well, just to be perfectly honest, this whole system, if they want you to see and get through, it's easy, you know, quick and easy. And if they don't, you couldn't find it to save your life, or I couldn't. BF: Oh really? RW: Yeah BF: So it's not just as simple as walking through a tunnel? RW: No, it's not. And I know that sounds a little science fiction-ish, but BF: Well, that's the nature of caves and tunnels, if you've been in them before. RW: It's also the nature of if God wants you to see something or not. BF: Exactly. RW: And so, as far as I know, I'm the only one that has been in there, but I'm not there all the time, so I really don't know about this. But I don't know for a fact that nobody else has been in there. BF: Right RW: Now there's some, several people that have lost their lives, directly or indirectly, in an attempt to either move or prevent the continuation of the work on the ark of the covenant. BF: Right RW: Alright, now I do not want to get into details on that. BF: OKay RW: For the simple reason that, and I think you probably know this, that the Bishop of the angels of the church, who is basically the head of the Garden Tomb died within a month of telling me that I couldn't excavate out there anymore. BF: And that was shortly after Reverend White retired. RW: Um, yeah. And so, anyway, there's a whole bunch of people that, you know I didn't say that, I've never said that he died because of that to anybody, I didn't verbalize it. BF: It was just a matter of fact. RW: I've verbalized that there have been people that have died, and they've put two and two together because, you know, working there, they were giving orders to me not to be able to do anything anymore, and God rescinded that, they all died, so of course, they put all that together. BF: I don't know that it's really necessary to address that aspect of it, because nobody's asking about that part. RW: I think we ought to just skip that. BF: The only other thing that would relate to anything happening in the chamber and that type of thing is back when those six people got killed trying to get in there to the ark and move it. RW: Yeah, and this is why I saw I had rather not BF: Okay. Because I know you told me that story, but, okay, that's fine if you don't want to go into that. RW: Well, the situation is that if we get on the page, web page, with a bunch of stuff, at some point some of the people that are keeping an eye on me, and they might not like the direction I'm taking or something. So I figure that I would just lump it into a statement that there have been those that have lost their lives, directly or indirectly, and just let it go at that. BF: Okay. Can I just ask you one thing on a personal note, and this won't be any part of what we're talking about doing here, who was it that initiated those men going in there trying to move that thing, do you know? RW: I didn't ask. BF: OKay RW: The idea was that it's in occupied territory, they wanted to get it into unoccupied territory, and ordinarily, I'm all for that. Because I sure don't want Yasser Arafat ending up with it. BF: Right RW: But I know he isn't gonna. BF: Right, it's not really an issue. RW: Right, but that was what I was given to be the reason, but as to who made that decision, well you know, I didn't ask. BF: Right. Are the golden poles still either on or around the ark? RW: Well, they are not in their slots anymore. BF: But they are in the chamber? RW: Right. They are in the chamber. The impression I got, or I may have gotten is, well, I came out of there with, I think, a lot more information in my head than was verbalized by the angel. I don't know if that makes any sense to you or not. BF: Yeah, I think so. RW: And so the bottom line is that I think the ark of the covenant is fulfilling its final destiny and that is to prove to the entire universe that God's Son actually gave His life, you know, to redeem the human family. And that proof will stay throughout eternity. BF: Okay. Anything else you want to add? RW: I think that's about it, Bill. BF: Okay. Ron, I appreciate it. RW: I appreciate you looking after these things, because you know, I have to have this pain medicine, and it grogs me a bit.. and it's nice to have someone that can help me get these things across so that they won't be misstated or whatever. BF: You know we'll do everything we can. Uh, listen, I'm probably not going to get a chance to work on this until after I get back from the meeting in New Orleans. RW: Oh, okay BF: Because I'm leaving tomorrow, and I've still got some things to do around here relative to getting ready for Sabbath and for the trip. So I probably won't get to work on it until early next week. But I'll be back in touch with you and email you a copy before we post anything. RW: Okay, that'll be great. BF: If you would, and I've already talked to Mary Nell about this, please pray for me in this meeting, because I really think the Lord's presenting an opportunity here. There's going to be a large number of people there. RW: OKay, alright, we sure will. BF: Thanks so much, Ron, and take care, and know that I and many, many others are still praying for you. RW: I appreciate that very kindly, I really do, and I can tell that that's happening. And I just want you know I appreciate you, Bill. BF: Thank you, Ron, and we appreciate and love you. Let me ask you before I go, did you get that newspaper with Ross just exactly the way you wanted it? RW: Well, we got it pretty close. Mary Nell learned pretty well how to do what he does. And we got it quite close, or closer, with just a few little typos, and I'm going over that sheet by sheet. So we were thinking about maybe getting some copies printed up for handing out down at the meeting. BF: Oh, no, there's no time to do that now. But I'm looking down the road a bit. RW: Well, it shouldn't be very long. We should be by the end of next week, have it ready to be printed, I guess. BF: Oh, really? That quick? RW: I think so. BF: That would be great, it would be great. Okay, well, Ron, we're gonna let you know, 'cause I know you're tired. If there's anything I can do for you, or Mary Nell, give me a call, and we'll do what we can. RW: Well, we're more or less getting things into a routine. Things keep changing a little bit, anyway, and learning to live with all of this. well, okey dokey, thanks, Bill. BF: Okay, God bless, bye bye.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews_ron_wyatt.html

Girl of 14 begs court to send her prison in Trinidad

2007-11-17T04:32:00.001-08:00

San Fernando (Trinidad and Tobago), SVM News, November 17, 2007: A-14-year old girl sincerely begged the magistrate's court of San Fernando in Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on November 16 to send her to the Women's Prison.

The girl believes that she will be abused more if go back to her siblings; but could benefit from counselling in the prison.

The girl is a Form One student of a secondary school in south Trinidad. She was brought to the court on Friday through summons for uncontrollable behaviour, on the recommendation of Social Welfare Officer, Monica Dash.

She admitted before the court that she is often influenced by men who abuse her on the streets.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that the girl's sister-in-law witnessed the court that the girl had been seen with men who take advantage of her. She also told that the girl does not know who her mother is. Her father is 70 years old and is unable to supervise her due to his age. She would often leave home for school in her uniform, but changes along the route into pants and blouse.

But acting Senior Magistrate Ramraj Harripersad, presiding in the Petty Civil Court San Fernando forced to send the girl back with her siblings. As the girl’s sister-in-law who accompanied her, left the courtroom, she warned that the girl was unruly and was likely to end up again on the streets.

Magistrates stated that homes for children were packed to capacity, and on the other hand, he could not commit a minor to prison.

But, with swollen eyes, the girl begged the magistrate that she wanted to go to the Women's Prison. A stunned magistrate asked: "What! Do you know what there is like...you want to be a guest of the prison at age 14? It is perhaps you envision the women's prison where you could have lots of laughs as portrayed on television."

Magistrate Harripersad was about to make an order to commit the girl to St Jude's Home for Children, but the female court prosecutor Cpl Sampson Moore-Phillip, told him that the home was overpopulated.

Atttorney Ainsley Lucky who was sitting at the bar table, jumped to his feet and with the magistrate's permission to appear amicus (friend of the court), admonished the girl and advised her against opting to go to the Women's Prison.

Saying that he was indeed taken aback by the girl's plight, Harripersad commented that the case struck at the root of the deep social crisis of the country's youth population. "This girl does not know her mother, and her father is 70. She is prone to all kinds of things, where the attendant social illnesses of sexual abuse, drugs and HIV, will befall her if the powers that be do not take cognisance," he said.

The magistrate said that it was with a heavy heart, he must return the girl into the care of the sister-in-law. He ordered that welfare officer Dash be informed that some form of rehabilitation be provided for her.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews272.html

Dalit man burnt alive in Madhya Pradesh in India

2007-11-13T06:29:00.000-08:00

Dhar (Madhya Pradesh, India), SVM News, November 13, 2007: A Dalit villager burnt to death by upper-caste people in Dhar District of Madhya Pradesh in India on November 10.

Kailash Bagri (40) was burnt alive on Saturday by a group of 50 armed men for beating an ox belonging to his upper-caste neighbour that had strayed into his field.

Shankar, Kailash Bagri's son told that they all converged at their house brandishing swords.

"My father ran some distance but they eventually caught him and burnt him to death...all because he beat an animal," Shankar said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service. "Our family was so terrified that we ran for cover," he added.

A senior police official said the case was detected on Monday; but he denied reports that the man was burnt alive.

Chanchal Shekhar, District Superintendent of Police (SP) of Dhar said, "They tried to conceal their crime by burning and disposing the body, but we have seized the evidence."

SP continued that the police authorities haven't been able to make any arrests since the accused are absconding.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the incident.

Atrocities against Dalits from upper-castes are common in India. Low-caste people are being known as Dalits.

Two Dalit women named Devorati and Kamala were being thrown out of government hospital and died after they gave birth of two babies in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh on November 1 by the health officials for the inability of paying additional bribe.

A Dalit Christian woman, Chellarian Rita, found murdered while attempting of the rape on October 19 in Kannur District of Kerala.

Another Dalit woman, Suman, was tied up to a tree, severely beaten and forced to drink urine on October 10 at the village of Tili Aanvili in Hosangabad district of Madhya Pradesh for refusing to harvest crop alone in an entire farm.

In September, a Dalit woman was burnt alive by upper-caste men in northern Uttar Pradesh state, after her son eloped with a girl from their caste.

Earlier in August, a policeman in eastern Bihar state had drowned two low-caste girls by throwing them in a river for stealing firewood from his orchard.

Caste-based discrimination is banned in India, but upper-caste Hindus still practice all forms of discrimination, including not allowing the low-caste to worship at temples and insisting that they drink from separate village wells.

The most menial jobs, including cleaning of sewers and night soil, often manually, are also largely done by Dalit community members, who comprise about 160 million of India's 1.2 billion population.

A major portion of Dalits believing Jesus Christ and worshipping God in the Spirit and the truth because of the discrimination of the upper-caste people. There also the fundamentalists do not allow them to live with peace; but persecuting and torturing widely.

Earlier this year, a United Nations committee, equated violence against Dalits with racial discrimination and has questioned India's record on treatment of the socially marginalized.

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has called upon the Indian government to ensure an immediate end to the violence on Dalits.

The report found that the "de-facto segregation of Dalits persists" and highlighted systematic abuse against Dalits, including torture and extra-judicial killings, as well as an "alarming" extent of sexual violence against Dalit women.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews271.html

Christmas New Year Greetings of 2008 in 600 Languages

2007-11-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

Kerala (India), SVM News, November 12, 2007: The Salem Voice Ministries published Christmas New Year Greetings of 2008 in 600 languages in a special website, titled "Salem Voice Ministries (Christmas New Year Special - 2008)". It can be accessed at http://www.salemvoice.bravehost.com

Some of the beautiful Christmas New Year cards and Christmas messages also published in seperate pages of the website.

It has been compiled and published by Pastor Paul Ciniraj Mohamed, the President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries.

Anybody can copy Christmas and New Year Greetings from this website and send it to others in their own languages around the world for free of cost. Also it will be permitted for those who asks to make a link with this greetings page for any of the websites, weblogs, news letters or any other publications. The webmaster of the Salem Voice Ministries said.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews270.html

Two army officers killed by Soldier in Kashmir

2007-11-10T16:39:00.000-08:00

Jammu-Kashmir (India), SVM News, November 10, 2007: A soldier shot and killed two of his colleagues, including a junior commissioned officer in the premises of 16 Corps Counter-Insurgency Battle School at Bhalara near Bhaderwah in Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir around 12 noon on November 10.

The two army officials, Subedar Siju Alex (35), a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), and havaldar Brij Behari, a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) were murdered on Saturday in the shootout by Sepoy Vivek Kumar Sharma, who was undergoing training at the Balra Corps Battle School.

Lt. Col. SD Goswami, the defence spokesman in Jammu, said the soldier, identified as Vivek Kumar Sharma, 'ran amok and killed a JCO and an NCO with his service rifle in the Corps Battle School at Bhalara'.

Vivek Sharma had been arrested and a court of Inquiry ordered to ascertain the reason behind his action.

Subedar Siju Alex, a Christian, son of Kulamakkal Chandy at Chempakappara in Idukki District of Kerala died on the spot. He belonged to the Pathankot-based, 105-Air Defence Regiment and he was on 15 days special duty in battle school. He completed his special duty on Saturday and was becoming ready to go back to his regiment.

Siju Alex leaves his wife Jaisy and two children Allan and Arun. Jaisy is the daughter of Kaliyanikkal Chacko at Maradi in Kerala.

Siju's relatives said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that there is inexplicability about his death. They have contacted Mr. A.K. Antony, the Defence Minister of India for furthur actions.

Fragging continues to haunt security forces in the Valley despite various stress-busting techniques and tough action against erring soldiers.

Major P. Alexander was killed by sepoy Mohan Munda in the Gurez sector near the Line of Control in Kashmir on July 24. He was the highest-ranking officer to die this year in such an incident.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews269.html

Man attended prayer vigil killed by officials in Trinidad

2007-11-07T22:40:00.000-08:00

San Fernando (Trinidad and Tobago), SVM News, November 07, 2007: Man attended night prayer vigil shot and killed by police at Magistrate's house on November 6 at 2.30 am at Rousillac village in San Fernando of Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Joel Ramsingh, 21, an employee of the San Fernando City Corporation, had attended a prayer vigil for the nation on Monday night at the St Peter's Spiritual Baptist Church, Navet Road, San Fernando was the man killed by officers at a house in Rousillac owned by Magistrate Rae Roopchand.

Police authorities say that Ramsingh and an accomplice got shot during a shootout with police who had responded to a call that two men were seen removing household items from Roopchand's house.

Police said they received information of "unusual activity" near Roopchand's home. They investigated and there was shooting.

Ramsingh died and the other man, who is from La Brea, sustained gunshot wounds and has been warded in stable condition at the San Fernando General Hospital where he is under police guard.

Ramsingh's relatives said he went to his house after the vigil but later received a phone call, after which a car arrived and he left in it. Police have since reported that and the other suspect shot at officers when they were intercepted at the magistrate's house in Rousillac. Police shot back, killing Ramsingh and wounding the accomplice.

The entire congregation of the St. Peter's Spiritual Baptist Church was shocked at his death.

One of the woman leaders of the night vigil said to Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that he was baptised at the church three months ago and had turned his life around. "He never committed any major crime but he had changed his lifestyle and was going to church regularly. He didn't deserve to die that way", she added.

Ramsingh and family were former Hindus and Indians. His wife and two children live at Blitz village, Pleasantville. They said he did not own a gun and was not a thief, but born-again man of God.

Mother Smith, Ramsingh’s spiritual mother said, "Since his baptism, he has become very spiritual. He has been participating in the (nine nights) prayers right here, every night since it started.

"Up to Monday night he was here and left around 11.30 pm saying he was going home as he wanted no part of (the election) victory celebrations of the People's National Movement's victory at the polls in the San Fernando East constituency," she said.

Ramsingh said he had not voted, and was not interested in the fete," she continued.

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a lovely twin-islands in between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean in the West Indies, off the coast of northeast Venezuela.

Trinidad is separated from Venezuela by 11 km (7 miles) off the Gulf of Paria. Tobago lies 33-km northeast of Trinidad.

Trinidad and Tobago comprises 5,128 square km in which Trinidad covers an area of 4,828 square km and Tobago covers 300 square km.

As per the census Indian 40%, African 37.5%, mixed 20.5%, other 2%.

Roman Catholic 26%, Hindu 22.5%, Anglican 7.9%, Baptist 7.2%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Muslim 5.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 4%, other Christian 5.8%, other 14%.

English (official), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), French, Spanish, Chinese are the languages.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews268.html

Two Dalit women killed in hospital for not paying additional bribe for delivery

2007-11-02T03:20:00.000-07:00

Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh, India), SVM News, November 02, 2007: Two Dalit women being thrown out of government hospital and died after they gave birth of two babies in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh on November 1 by the health officials for the inability of paying additional bribe.

Devorati (25), who gave birth to a boy around 5 on Thursday evening, was the first to die. Her husband Dilip had admitted her to the government hospital after bribing an official with Indian Rs 500/- ($13). As per government norms, admission to hospitals is free and women coming for delivery should get Rs 1,400 ($37) as an allowance under the Janani-Suraksha Yojna meant for pregnant women under BPL (Below Poverty Line) category. But on the contrary, Dilip was asked to pay an additional Rs 1,000 ($26).

"Soon after childbirth, the medical staff demanded Rs 1,000. When I said I had no money, they threw out my wife despite the fact that she was bleeding and had not regained consciousness", Devorati's husband Dilip said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Dilip took Devorati and new born boy back to his village, but her condition deteriorated rapidly and died.

Right after three hours, Kamla, wife of Ramprakash of Ambarpur village also was thrown out of the hospital just after she gave birth to a girl child when her family members refused to pay a bribe of Rs 500 and instead demanded Rs 1,400 as of their allowance from the government.

Enraged by their deaths, villagers laid a siege on the hospital and thrashed the staff.

"I have received complaints about doctors' not coming to the hospital and demanding bribe. Anurag Patel, ADM of Kanpur City has been asked to conduct an inquiry", an official told.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and Director of the Salem Voice Ministries (http://salemvoice.org/about.html) condemned the brutality towards Dalit women in Uttar Pradesh. This shocking incident is absolutely shame in Uttar Pradesh where a Dalit woman Mayavati came to power as the Chief Minister.

"Where we have to go for the justice? Don't we have right to live here? 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," Ciniraj said.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews266.html

Five Missionaries murdered in China

2007-11-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

Gansu (China), SVM News, November 01, 2007: Five Christian Presbyterian missionaries of America murdered at the city of Lienchow in Gansu province of China last week.

Nikki Canady of the Central Christian College of the Bible informed the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that one of his friends telephoned him and told about the brutal murder of 5 missionaries in China.

City of Lienchow is also called Lanchow.

Chinese Government is rumored to begin the exile of many missionaries in the Gansu province.

Nikki Canady asked Salem Voice Ministries (http://salemvoice.org/about.html) for requesting all the children of God and prayer warriors to pray for the continued safety of those still in the Gansu province and other parts of China, for boldness of faith, for open hearts and minds, and for an increased harvest in that area.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews265.html

Salem Voice joins to pray for Persecuted Church with IDOP

2007-10-31T20:05:00.000-07:00

Kottayam (Kerala, India), SVM News, November 1, 2007: The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) conducting this year's global day of intercession for persecuted Christians on November 11. Its primary focus is the work of intercessory prayer and citizen action on behalf of persecuted communities of the Christian faith.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj, Director of the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM - http://salemvoice.org) and the President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) told that SVM and CMCI join with the International Day of Prayer on Sunday, November 11, 2007.

The intercessory prayers will be having for the persecuted church during the worship services.

SVM and CMCI conduct special prayer meetings on Sunday afternoon and a special night vigil on Sunday night, starts at 6 pm to Monday 6 am (Indian time) to pray for the souls of the oppressors, the nations that promote persecution, and those who ignore it.

And also will be praying for those who request prayers during prayer meeting and night vigil.

Prayer is our fort; prayer changes things. God invites us to present Him our requests and to pray without ceasing. Persecuted Christians often plead for prayer to help them endure. The most we can do is the least we can do — pray.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews264.html

Masked men kidnapped Christians from Pakistan hospital

2007-10-30T18:47:00.000-07:00

North Waziristan (Pakistan), SVM News, October 30, 2007: Pro-Taliban militants kidnapped two Christian sanitation workers on October 26 from a hospital in North Waziristan in Pakistan.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that Naeem Masih and Shahbaz Masih were kidnapped by masked men from the main gate of Miranshah Headquarters Hospital in North Waziristan on Friday.

Two Christians were kidnapped five months ago but were later released. Local Taliban are suspected to be involved in the incidents though no group has so far claimed responsibility for the kidnappings. Christian residents of Hadyara village on the outskirts of Lahore were attacked earlier this month by men who also stormed the New Apostolic Church, established before the partition of the Indian sub-continent.

They had complained to the authorities that their church could be razed by Muslims angry that Christian prayers were aired by loudspeakers.

Members of the minority community had said that announcements were made through mosque loudspeakers asking Muslims from nearby villages to be ready for a "final attack". Other announcements urged businesses and farmers not to allow Christians on to their properties.

Around 1,000 Christians live in the locality of Miranshah.

Islamist militants in Pakistan have regularly threatened to kill Christian clerics in Southern Punjab's Khanewal district if they did not "embrace Islam and stop preaching Christianity."

Demanding equal opportunities "as promised" by Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, minority organisations in August had sought a ban on forced conversions and repeal of the stringent blasphemy laws in the Islamic country. SVM News reports.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews263.html

Militants kidnapped four Indians and two Polish in Nigeria

2007-10-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

New Delhi (India), SVM News, October 29, 2007: Nigerian militants kidnapped four Indians on October 26 from an offshore oil rig near Harcourt Port in Nigeria.

Ajith Kamaraj (33), K. Mohandas (37), Vinod Dharmanath (32) of Vadakkakulam Village of Thirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu and Pandureng Tari (48) of Thane district in Maharashtra were the Indians kidnapped on Friday.

Polish nationals, Michael Konopacki, the ship's captain, and Jan Jomarski, a cargo operator, have also been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen. All were working in an Italian oil firm when they were abducted.

A prominent militant group claimed responsibility on Saturday for the kidnapping of six foreign workers and they demand $50 million USDollars for their release.

Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service reports that the Union Government is taking all steps to secure the safe release of four Indians.

Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs said, "We are in touch with the Indian Embassy in Nigeria and the company where the Indians are working. They promised to extend all support to us. We are confident of securing safe and early release of the Indians".

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews262.html

Pastor stabbed to death in Philippines

2007-10-27T13:16:00.000-07:00

Kidapawan City (Republic of Philippines), SVM News, October 27, 2007: Pastor of Jesus Is Lord Ministries was stabbed to death on October 26 in Barangay Perez of Kidapawan City in North Cotabato province in southern Philippians.

Pastor Martin Ambong (48) was brutally murdered on Friday early morning near his church with16 stab wounds on his body. His face was also flogged by a hard object.

Police registered a case and started investigation.

"Pastor Martin was murdered probably on Thursday after midnight", police said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service. "Villagers have seen his body first lying near the church on Friday morning", police added.

When the pastor murdered, his family was at their house in Barangay Poblacion. Pastor was staying at mission house. Mostly he used to spend his time over there.

"Pastor Martin Ambong has no known enemies. Such a good and humble man he was", villagers said to the SVM News.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews261.html

Catholic nuns attacked in Madhya Pradesh in North India

2007-10-26T11:36:00.000-07:00

Indore (Madhya Pradesh, India), SVM News, October 26, 2007: Five Roman Catholic nuns belong to the Fransiscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) were attacked by Hindu extremists on October 25 in Indore in North Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

Sister Sayujya and sister Jincy Nattekkadan were seriously injured and admitted in Arabindo Medical College.

"Nuns were beaten on Thursday night by a mob of 20 Bajrangdal activists, when they were return back after a cottage prayer meeting at their driver's house", Sister Geo FCC told the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Sister Sayujya's leg has been broken. Sister Jincy has seven stitches in her head.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) condemned the attack towards roman catholic nuns of Indore.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews259.html

Christian Police Officer killed in Campus by Marxist and Hindu students

2007-10-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

Kottayam (Kerala, India), SVM News, October 26, 2007: A police officer was beaten to death in between the clashes of two student group activists named SFI (Students Ferderation of India) and ABVP (Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad) in a college campus on October 26 at Changanassery of Kottayam District in Kerala State, India.

M.C. Elias (46), the Additional Sub-Inspector of Police (ASI) in Changanassery was brutally murdered on Friday at about 10.30 am at NSS College campus by a rod hit on head by student activists.

"ASI M.C. Elias was trying to restore peace at campus, where activists from SFI and ABVP were demonstrating against the union elections earlier this month", police said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

SFI is the student's wing led by the ruling party, Communist Party of India Marxist, and ABVP is the BJP and RSS led student's wing of Hindu fanatics.

Twelve ABVP workers including RSS Secretary of Changanassery were taken into custody in connection with the incident and police surrounded NSS College because they think four accusers are hiding inside the college. Also police raided Sangh Parivar Centers in Kottayam District.

NSS College also run by a Hindu organisation called Nair Service Society. Management decided to shut down the college for a short term.

Elias and a few constables had come to the campus on request from college authorities who anticipated trouble as students belonging to the rival outfits boycotted classes and started demonstrations, sources said.

The Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Director General of Police (DGP) Raman Sreevastav visited the college and Elias' family. "RSS-BJP activists are behind the murder of Elias", DGP said.

"It is the first time a police officer killed in college campus and it is unfortunate", Home Minister said. State Education Minister M.A. Baby expressed shock at the incident.

"Government decided to give Rs. 6 Lacs (15,000 USD) for Elias' family", Chief Minister V.S. Achutanandan said.

SFI blames ABVP and RSS regarding Elias' murder. ABVP blames SFI killed Elias.

Both ruling parties and the opposition parties of Kerala had called a hartal (strike) in Kottayam district on Saturday in protest against the incident.

Elias is the son of Chacko and Kunjamma of Pillachira Mattathil House at Nalunnakkal, Vakathanam in Kottayam district. He leaves behind Suja, his widow and two daughters Sherin and Sneha and a son Akhil. His widow Suja is a teacher of a Lower Primary School. Sherin studies IXth standard in a High School, and Akhil VIIth and Sneha IVth standards in primary school. He and his family are the members of the Salem Voice Ministries (http://salemvoice.org/about.html) prayer fellowship in Vakathanam.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salam Voice Ministries condemned the incident. He visited Elias' house and conveyed deep condolence on behalf of the Christian medias and ministries around the globe.

SVM News with pictures: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews258.html

Prayer worker stabbed to death by fake bootleggers in India

2007-10-22T11:41:00.001-07:00

Thrissur (Kerala, India), SVM News, October 22, 2007: A social and prayer fellowship worker stabbed to death on October 21 at Mupli Estate road in Thrissur District of Kerala State, India.

Shaju Kannampuzha (37) in Mupli was brutally murdered on Sunday night at about 9.30 by fake distillers of alcohol.

Vellikkulangara police arrested Rajesh of Themath at Kodunga and two others related with Shaju's murder.

The victim was killed by Rajesh and his friends because he worked against drugs and alcoholics and secretly informed about the fake distilling to the police.

"There are more people involved with Shaju's murder and they will be held soon", police said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service (http://salemvoice.org).

Rajesh was arrested while he came for the treatment at a primary health center for the injuries which he got during the murder of Shaju. He had been to the jail for an opium case and was released just three months ago and was involving to distill fake liquor.

Shaju was also a bootlegger about 12 years ago; but he had been confessed and turned back to God and became an active worker against drugs and alcoholics as a prayer fellowship and social worker.

Paul Ciniraj, the President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the slaying of Shaju Kannampuzha.

SVM News with picture: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews257.html

Two catholic nuns killed by bricks fallen on heads

2007-10-21T14:37:00.000-07:00

Kottayam (Kerala, India), SVM News, October 21, 2007: Two catholic nuns of the Congregation of Teresian Carmalites (CTC) were killed by hollow-bricks fallen on heads from 60 feet high on October 21 in Kottayam in Kerala State, India.

Sister Magi alias Margurette Mary (31) and Sister Reshmi alias Thresiamma Thomas (34) of the Fatima Matha Convent at Nagampadom, Kottayam were the nuns killed on Sunday at about 5 in the evening.

The construction of a multi-stored apartment was progressing at the neighbouring site of the Convent compound. Building labourers were unloading the bricks through the lift. But at the fifth floor, the bricks were slipped and fallen down to the nuns, who were involving with cleaning the convent and its surroundings.

When incident occured, nuns were near the compound wall, which is just behind the constructing apartment. Their heads were totally smashed and died on the spot.

"Another sister Priya was also with them, but she miraculously escaped from the incident", Sister Iros, a member of the convent and the Principal of Madonna English School said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Police registered a case against the building laboureres.

Paul Ciniraj, President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and Director of Salem Voice Ministries (http://salemvoice.org) visited Fatima Matha Convent and expressed deep condolence on behalf of Christian medias and ministries around the globe.

Sister Magi was working as a teacher of Madonna English School in Kottayam. She is the daughter of Chakkappan and Mary of Poyya Thaliyanath in Thrissur District.

Sister Reshmi was a B Ed student at St.Xavier's College, Aluva. She is the daughter of V.A. Thomas and Thresiamma of Poonkavu Vadasseril of Alappuzha. She served about 15 convents. An year before she was the mother superior at Perumpalam Convent too.

SVM News with pictures: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews256.html

Dalit Christian woman raped and murdered in Kerala, India

2007-10-21T09:26:00.000-07:00

Kannur (Kerala, India), SVM News, October 21, 2007: The dead body of a dalit christian woman was found in a thicket of shurbs on October 19 at Pazhayangadi in Kannur district of Kerala state, India. Police declared it was a murder.

Chellarian Rita (36), the wife of Jose Madakkudiyan of Ezhom kavumchal was the christian dalit woman brutally murdered while attempting of the rape.

"She died because of serious wound in her head", police said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service (http://salemvoice.org). A deep injury was found in her forehead. Her clothes were completely teared. Police said.

Rita had gone to the ration shop at Kannoth on Thursday morning from her house to purchase rice. But she did not come back. Her relatives and local residents searched her in the relatives houses till night.

Finally Jose, Rita's husband complaint to the Pazhayangadi Police Station at about 10 pm.

In the morning local people found scattered rice at the roadside near Kavumchal public graveyard. After sometime they found the dead body in a thicket of shurbs at the valley of the nearest hill.

Police discovered a liquer bottle alongwith scattered rice and chappals from the spot.

Mathew Policarp, the District Superintendent of Police investigating the case. Forensic chief Dr. S. Gopala Pillai visited to examine the incident place.

Rita is the daughter of Chellarian Charlie and Thekkan Mariam of Pilathara. She married with Jose about 14 years ago. They don't have children.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) condemned the slaying of Rita. He asked the government to find out the murderers and to arrest them immediately.

"Rita was brutally raped and killed. She is a victim of dalit christian persecution. The murderes must not have any kindness from the police, court, and government," Ciniraj said.

SVM News with picture: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews255.html

Pastor and wife were brutally attacked in Kerala

2007-10-14T12:21:00.000-07:00

Kalpatta (Kerala, India), SVM News, October 14, 2005: Pastor and wife were brutally attacked by unassailant attackers at Thrissilery in Wayanad district at 2.30 am on October 14.

Pastor Joseph Thadikkal (57) and his wife Ammini (52) of New India Bible Church were severely beaten and admitted in the Mananthavadi district hospital with serious head and leg injuries.

A police team investigating the case under the leadership of K. Madhusudanan, the Deputy Superintendant of Police.

"Few months ago Hindu organisations had complaint to the police against Pastor Joseph Thadikkal that he is converting people to Christianity", a local resident said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service..

But Hindu organisations said they have no connection with this attack.

Paul Ciniraj, President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India condemned the attack towards pastor Joseph and his wife.

"Persecution towards christians, dalits and other minorities are increasing thoughout India", Ciniraj said. "Priests, pastors, missionaries, evangelists and believers are being murdered, beaten, abducted and jailed. Women are being raped. Churches and institutions stoned, vandalized and demolished". he added.

SVM News with pictures: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews254.html

Injil (Gospel) study version published in Tazi language

2007-10-09T01:35:00.000-07:00

Kottayam (Kerala), SVM News, October 9 2007: Bible Society of India publishing the entire New Testament in Tazi language and the Salem Voice Ministries (http://salemvoice.org) distributing it among Muslims.

"Eternal Words of Life" has been already published by the Bible Society of India by name "Injil". It is a study version of the Gospel according St. Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.

It has 340 pages, including cover pages. Introduction about the Bible, introductions about the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, maps of the Old Testament and New Testament periods, images of the third century and nineth century manuscripts and glossary are also included.

The entire New Testament is under printing and it will be released soon.

The terminology of the new book is familiar for Muslims, such as Ilah for God, Ilahi-puthran for Son of God, Isa for Jesus, Jibiril for Gabriel, Ibrahim for Abraham, Moosa for Moses, Davood for David, Sulaiman for Solomon, Yahya for John the Baptist, malakh for angel, musaliyar for priest, sahabi for disciple and anbiya for prophets.

A simple and detailed notes have been given in the margines from the Old Testament, so that any readers can easily understand the Gospel to attain salvation.

There are millions of muslims speaking Tazi language in India. It is first ever in the world publishing Bible for this group of people.

"We found a vast number of people are interested to read "Injil" and responding with questions and doubts. We do follow up ministry among them", Paul Ciniraj, Director of Salem Voice Ministries told.

One book costs 28 Indian Rupees, but it distributes freely.

There are about 40 questions at the end of the book. A full Bible will be given as a gift for those who answer the questions of the book.

SVM News with pictures: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews253.html

Doctor allegedly gang raped and left half dead in Delhi

2007-09-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

New Delhi (India), SVM News, September 25, 2007: A 25-year-old doctor working with Employee State Insurance Hospital at Basai Darapur in West Delhi has been allegedly gang raped and left half dead on September 20.

"The authorities of the hospital reported that general physician and resident doctor was found unconscious and brutally injured as a result of gang rape at the Raja Garden hostel of the state-run ESI hospital on Thursday night. She was admitted to the emergency ward in the same hospital," police said on Tuesday.

"Doctors informed that there were strangulation marks on her neck and injuries on her private parts. She was hurt badly and for better treatment she was shifted to a private hospital," said a senior police official investigating the matter.

Therefore, she is presently admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of Balaji Healthcare Hospital in Paschim Vihar. The doctors at the Balaji hospital said that she was still critical and unfit to make any police statement.

"We have registered a case under section 307 for attempting to rape and murder against unknown assailants. But it seems that the victim was gang raped. We will convert into a rape case after taking her statement," the official told.

She was hailing from punjab, and was living with her sister at the hostel.

Police officer of Moti Nagar police station said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that they have registered a case under section 307 for attempting to rape and murder against unknown assailants.

The doctor was reportedly found on the floor with needle marks on her arms. Initial reports claim that there was an attempt to murder her after the alleged rape. Police said that she sustained injuries while resisting.

"Investigations suggest that the accused were familiar to the victim. We have identified them and would make arrests only after the victim's statement. We hope to record her plea in next two days," police said. "It seems that the victim was gang raped. We will convert into a rape case," official added.

Source: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews251.html

Parents driven suicide with son for his cancers

2007-09-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

Kochi (Kerala), SVM News, September 25, 2007: Couple was found dead along with their son on September 25, Tuesday morning at Lakeshore hospital in Cochin in Kerala, India for unable to cope with the trauma of son's cancers.

Das (50) and Latha (42) of Kondoli House at Thrithalur in Thrissur District and their son Jeslin (14) were in the hospital since last month for the treatment of Jeslin who had undergone brain surgery because of a tumour. Just few days back he was diognosed with leukaemia too.

Das, father of Jeslin was an employee of a private bus. Jeslin is the only son and the youngest among three other girls. When the boy was detected brain tumor, Das made all of his efforts to treat his son by lending money from several people. But he had a hope that after his son's recovery he can go and work and get deliverance from debts. But he became weary by hearing Jeslin diognosed with leukaemia.

Dr. V.P. Gangadharan, who treated Jeslin said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that the father of the boy appeared to be totally devastated since he was detected with the tumour in the brain.

"It was only last week that the boy came under my treatment. A few days back, his blood count dropped suddenly and it was found he was also a leukaemia patient," Dr. Gangadharan said.

Doctor had spoken to the distraught couple on Monday evening. But at the same night couple and child driven suicide. Indications show that they had taken poison.

Jeslin was studying in standard IX at Karamukku S.N.G.S.School.

Jiji, Siji and Liji are the sisters of Jeslin. They are married with Pradeep, Sumesh and Bineesh.

Health insurance is slowly coming up in India, but not common. In fact, the poor people have no knowledge about it. Or to say they cannot afford the premium of certain insurance companies. Therefore poor people suffering too much debts and worries because of the different types of treatments.

Source: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews250.html

More lynching and assaulting as social turmoil in India

2007-09-23T05:08:00.000-07:00

Paul Ciniraj

Patna (Bihar, India), SVM News, Sept 23, 2007: Two more suspected thieves lynched at Saketpuri, a lower middle class neighbourhood under the jurisdiction of Sultanganj police station of Patna in Bihar state on September 21.

The alleged thieves were attacked by an angry crowd after a resident raised an alarm on Friday night.

"One of the victims jumped into a pond to escape, but the mob encircled, stoned, pulled him out and he was beaten to death," Anwar Hussain, City Police Superintendent told to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Another man's body was recovered on Saturday morning.

There are many incidents of lynching, dragging and assaulting in Bihar state since last few days.

It was on Sept 12, ten people belonging to a poverty-stricken community in Bihar itself, were lynched in Vaishali district. A high-level probe has found those men were not thieves as suspected earlier.

Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar imposed a fine two days after the incident against the residents of a village that lynched 10 alleged thieves and taking the law into their own hands.

On August 29, an unemployed youth named Salim Aurangzeb was tied to the motorcycle of a police officer and was dragged along the road in Bhagalpur in full view of the cheering crowds for alleged chain snatching.

On Sept 5, two children were beaten, paraded on the streets and had their heads tonsured by villagers for allegedly stealing a few packs of detergent in Vaishali.

On September 9, three boys aged between 17 and 18, who had robbed a motorcycle at gunpoint near Shriddala, escaped lynching when police reached thescene on time. However, the right eye of one of the boys was gouged.

A 60-year-old dalit man, a landless laborer named Bhagawat Ravidoss was beaten to death and his relative Hari Ravidoss seriously injured on September 18 by landowners of Bhadrar village in Banka District.

Same day, an young man, Rakesh Kumar, 26, lynched by a mob in Patahi village in Sitamarhi district for allegedly stealing a statue from a temple. He was beaten to death with sticks and rods after a witchcraft practitioner identified him as the one who had stolen the statue.

In another incident in Bhagalpur district, two minor girls were assaulted by their neighbours in Kulkuliya village under the Ghogha police station. The police failed to register a case despite visiting the affected family.

In Jharkhand state also a mob of villagers from Daridag and Kodi localities in Ramgarh district in Jharkhand attacked a gang suspected to be involved in a number of thefts and beheaded three of them on September 20 night. Those killed have been identified as Faiaz and Umar of Soso village under Gola police station, and Maniruddih of Piri village under Barkakana OP.

There are many other incidents of social and religious turmoil throughout India during the last month.

On August 26, a tribal man and three women were brutally beheaded by a group of villagers who suspected them that they were practicing sorcery in Balasore district of Orissa.

On the same day, a violent attack on a house church in Kolar district of Karnataka state and was beaten pastor Emmanuel Venkatesh and M.S. Thimmakka and stabbed a church member Venkattarajappa on his hand and hips as christian persecution.

The next day, a 24-year-old man named Ramesh Patel was chained to a tractor, dragged and murdered in Palanpur district of Gujarat. A whole village watched yet no one uttered a word.

On August 28, a mob gathered after a speeding truck in Agra, the home town of the Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh, crushed four teenagers and burned more than 54 vehicles and many shops nearby in which one person was killed and many were hospitalized. The same day, retaliatory killings were prevented in Gohana village in Haryana state due to the prompt intervention of the Dalit elders and police force after one of their youths was found murdered.

On August 29, Raibhan Tembhurne, a 55-year-old school teacher allegedly killed his 19-year-old college studentdaughter Ratna as a human sacrifice along with his two wives Reema and Sharda by the instruction of a black magic petitioner because he had fathered a son at village Kudegaon, which is about 50 miles from Bhandara in Maharashtra state. Same day, Mathews Pulimoottil Cor-episcopa, an 81-year-old village bishop of the Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Church, was severely beaten and hospitalized in Cochin in Kerala.

On August 30, a Dalit woman was allegedly raped by two persons in Shajapur in Madhya Pradesh.

The following day, four alleged fuel thieves were tortured for hours and made to crawl by villagers and truckers near Bhubaneswar in Orissa. Also that day, as also previously reported by the news service, Mariyam, an elderly 83-year-old woman, was murdered in Trissur district of Kerala. A 45-year-old Dalit man, Brahmadas, was allegedly burned to death by his employers in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh on the same day.

On Sept 1, two elderly women were allegedly murdered by their sons in Keonjhar district in Orissa for practicing sorcery. The arrested youths told police they killed their mothers, who were in their 60s, because a witch doctor told them that their mothers were trying to kill them in order to achieve success in witchcraft after killing their fathers, who had died some time ago.

The next day, a girl and a boy were beheaded at Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh after they were found in a compromising position.

On Sept 3, Itwari, a ten-year-old boy was tied to a horse by a rope and dragged on the road by a Gujar crowd in Jalandhar District of Punjab for trying to stop their horses from grazing his fields. On that same day, T Solomon was tied to a tree near Kollam in Kerala and mercilessly beaten for allegedly stealing a cow. Police later found him mentally unsound. Also on that day, aAn elderly Dalit woman named Hirawati, 60, was beaten to death by four upper caste women over a petty dispute in the city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

The next day, September 4, women of Vachunuru village in Andhra Pradesh ransacked belt-shops and seized ID liquor and IML when the authorities failed to prevent liquor 'menace' despite their requests. That same day, angry crowds lynched Shiv Mohan and tried to set his house on fire for allegedly raping and murdering a three-year-old girl in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. Also on September 4, Boraj Panchayat near Ajmer in Rajastan conducted a compulsory body search of all its citizens to detect the alleged rapist among them. The villagers also beat a man to death near Rourkela in Orissa for allegedly molesting a woman.

On September 5, Krishna Khoya, suspected of murdering an elderly couple with witchcraft was executed by a tribal council in Jharkhand State.

Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand also witnessed a gruesome incident of mob violence last month in Tupudana in which three people were done to death.

On Sept 16, Hindu extremists burned down a prayer hall and beat Pastor Virendra Singh and his wife Bhavna in Barauli village near the Madiaon police station in Uttar Pradesh during the worship service as an act of Christian persecution. A mob of 30 extremists, led by Narendra Singh and Giri Baba, reached the prayer hall and picked a fight with the pastor. They threatened the couple and then set the thatched building on fire. The whole structure was reduced to rubble in a matter of a few minutes.

Source: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews249.html

Life term for Graham Staine's murderer Dara Singh for Priest murder

2007-09-22T12:20:00.000-07:00

Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries

Baripada (Orissa, India), SVM News, September 22, 2007: Dara Singh alias Ravinder Kumar Pal and three others were sentenced to life imprisonment by the District Judge Sachidananda Sahu of Mayurbhanj District and Sessions court in Northern Baripada town in Orissa for the murder of a 35-year-old Catholic priest Arul Doss on Saturday, September 22.

Dara Singh is already undergoing a life sentence in Baripada Circle Jail for burning to death of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons Philip and Timothy, while they were sleeping inside their vehicle outside a church at Manoharpur village in Keonjhar district on January 22, 1999, said he would challenge the verdict in the Orissa High Court.

A trial court in 2003, sentenced Dara Singh to death for his role in the killing, but a higher court later saved him from the gallows by commuting his sentence to life imprisonment.

Catholic priest Father Arul Doss was killed on September 1, 1999 in Jamabani village in Orissa's Mayurbhanj district. He was attacked and chased while attending a function and struck down by arrows.

Public Prosecutor Prasanna Kumar Pani said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that the court while convicting the four, acquitted 17 other accused in the case relating to the murder of catholic priest due to lack of evidence.

The court found Dara Singh, allegedly a member of the radical Hindu group Bajrang Dal and three others - Jadunath Mahanto, Chema Ho and Rajkishore Majanto - guilty after examining 23 witnesses during the trial for which had begun on September 8, 2004.

They were also sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment for burning a church, five years for trespass and three years for armed attack. The sentences would run concurrently.

Source (with pictures): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews248.html

Christian aid worker beaten up by narcotic sellers in Kerala

2007-09-22T10:05:00.001-07:00

Changanassery (Kerala, India), SVM News, September 22, 2007: A group of narcotoc sellers attacked Christian aid worker, who is also a prayer warrior in Changanassery in Kottayam district of Kerala, India on September 16.

Fatimapuram Parayil Thomas, 30, was severely beaten by the selling agents of narcotic distributors and admitted at Changanassery Taluk hospital with serious injuries.

The incident was happened in front of the KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) bus stand on Sunday night.

Thomas is a Christian aid worker and an active member of the Salem Voice Ministries prayer fellowship. He earns for his family as an auto-riksha (three wheeler) driver.

The narcotic sellers are centralised in Changanassery town and secretly selling opium, brown sugar and other drugs to the youth.

Thomas keeps his auto-riksha in front of KSRTC bus stand at Changanassery town to pick up travellers. He was alert against the narcotic sellers who used to lead astray and destroy the life of the youth. Recently he helped the police to catch somebody with narcotics. That was provoked them to attack him.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attact toward the Christian aid worker and prayer warrior Thomas.

Changanassery police registered a case and investigating on it.

Source: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews247.html

Dalit man beaten to death; social turmoil raging throughout India

2007-09-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

(Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries)

Banka (Bihar, India), SVM News, Sep 20, 2007: A 60-year-old dalit man beaten to death and another seriously injured on September 18 by landowners of Bhadrar village in Banka District of Bihar, India.

Bhagwat Ravidoss, 60, a landless labourer, murdered after he was lynched by landowners and their henchmen on Tuesday night over a land-related dispute.

Hari Ravidoss, one of the relatives of Bhagwat Ravidoss was also severely beaten and seriously injured. He was admitted to the Taluk hospital in a critical condition.

Police said poverty-stricken and landless Dalits have been living on land owned by the government for decades.

"Landowners and their henchmen attacked the Dalits and destroyed their thatched huts Tuesday night in a bid to capture the land. Bhagwat and Ravi were beaten up when they tried to put up a protest," a police spokeman said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

A case has been lodged against 49 people in this connection but no one has been arrested yet.

SOCIAL TURMOIL RAGING THROUGHOUT INDIA

On August 26, a tribal man and three women were brutally beheaded by a group of villagers who suspected them that they were practising sorcery in Balasore district of Orissa.

On August 27, a 24-year-old man named Ramesh Patel was chained to a tractor, dragged and murdered in Palanpur district of Gujarat. A whole village watched yet no one uttered a word.

On August 28, a mob gathered after a speeding truck in Agra, the home town of Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh crushed four teenagers and burnt over 54 vehicles and many shops nearby in which one killed and many were hospitalized. Same day, retaliatory killings were prevented in Gohana village in Haryana due to the prompt intervention of the Dalit elders and police force after one of their youths was found murdered.

On August 29, an unemployed youth named Salim Aurangzeb was tied to the motorcycle of a police officer and was dragged along the road in Bhagalpur in Bihar in full view of the cheering crowds for alleged chain snatching. Same day Raibhan Tembhurne, a school teacher of 55-years-old allegedly killed his 19-year-old college going daughter Ratna as a human sacrifice alongwith his two wives Reema and Sharda by the instruction of a black magic petitioner for getting a son. Mathews Pulimoottil Cor-episcopa, an 81-year-old village bishop of Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Church was severely beaten and hospitalised in Cochin in Kerala was also on the same day.

On August 30, a Dalit woman was allegedly raped by two persons in Shajapur in Madhya Pradesh.

On August 31, four alleged fuel thieves were tortured for hours and made to crawl by villagers and truckers near Bhubaneswar in Orissa. Same day, Mariyam, an elderly woman of 83-years-old brutally murdered in Trissur district of Kerala. A 45-year-old Dalit man, Brahmadas, was allegedly burnt to death by his employers in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh was also on the same day.

On Sept 1, two elderly women were allegedly murdered by their sons in Keonjhar district in Orissa for practicing sorcery. The arrested youths told police they killed their mothers, in their 60s, because a witch doctor told them that their mothers were trying to kill them in order to achieve success in witchcraft after killing their fathers, who had died some time ago.

On Sept 2, a girl and a boy were beheaded at Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh after they were found in a compromising position.

On Sept 3, Itwari, a ten-year-old boy was tied to a horse by a rope and dragged on the road by a Gujar crowd in Jalandhar District of Punjab for trying to stop their horses from grazing his fields. Same day, T Solomon was tied to a tree near Kollam in Kerala mercilessly beaten for allegedly stealing a cow. Police later found him mentally unsound. An elderly Dalit woman named Hirawati, 60, beaten to death by four upper caste women over a petty dispute in the city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh also on the same day.

On Sept 4, women of Vachunuru village in Andhra Pradesh ransacked belt-shops and seized ID liquor and IML when the authorities failed to prevent liquor 'menace' despite their requests. Same day, angry crowds lynched Shiv Mohan and tried to set his house on fire for allegedly raping and murdering a three-year-old girl in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. Same day, Boraj panchayat near Ajmer conducted a compulsory body search of all its to detect the rapist among them. The villagers beat a man to death near Rourkela in Orissa for allegedly molesting a woman also on the same day.

On Sept 5, two children were beaten, paraded on the streets and heads tonsured by villagers for alleged stealing a few packs of detergent in Vaishali in Bihar. Krishna Khoya, suspected of murdering an elderly couple with witchcraft executed by a tribal council in Jharkhand State also on the same day.

On Sept 9, three boys aged between 17-18, who had robbed a motor cycle at gun point near Shriddala in Bihar, escaped lynching when police reached there in time. But the right eye of one of them was gouged.

On Sept 10, two minor boys were beaten, paraded on the streets and their heads tonsured by villagers for alleged stealing detergent powder from a shop in Nawada district in Bihar.

On Sept 12, ten people belonging to the Nat community, were lynched in Vaishali district in Bihar. A high-level probe has found the 10 men were not thieves as suspected earlier.

On Sept 16, Hindu extremists burned down prayer hall and beaten Pastor Virendra Singh and his wife Bhavna in Barauli village under Madiaon police station in Uttar Pradesh during the worship service as a christian persecution. A mob of 30 extremists, led by Narendra Singh and Giri Baba, reached the prayer hall and picked up a fight with the pastor. They threatened the couple and then set the thatched it on fire. The whole structure was reduced to rubble in a matter of a few minutes.

Source: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews246.html

Elderly Cor-episcopa (Village Bishop) severely beaten in Kerala

2007-09-08T20:24:00.001-07:00

Kochi (Kerala, India), SVM News, September 8, 2007: An 81-year-old village bishop of Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Church was severely beaten and hospitalised on August 29 at Kanjiramattam in Ernakulam district of Kerala state, India.

Mathews Pulimoottil Cor-episcopa, 81, the village bishop and the vicar of the Kajniramattom St. Ignatius Orthodox Syrian Christian Church was severely beaten on Wednesday by an anti-social and a drunkard called Baby of Kaniyamparmbil. Suspecting there was an ati-social gang behind him.

The elderly bishop was attacked on the public road near his house while going back home from the church after the funeral of a member of the parish.

The accused slapped on his face several times and he was fallen down on the road. At that time he threshed his chest and hands and kicked him again.

The accused has been escaped when the people reached to the sopt.

Bishop severely injured and admitted at the Kolenchery Medical College. He still at the hospital and continue treatment.

"Mathews Cor-episcopa yet to be recovered. There are still some internal injuries in his body. So he suffer body aches. He finds very difficult to pick up even a pen, because one of his hands also threshed," Doctor Vinod said the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

After hearing this news, bishop's wife Kunjamma Mathew, 77, became seriously ill and admitted at Chottanikkara Tata hospital.

Sudheesh Kumar, the Deputy Superintendant of Police in Muvattupuzha, Kuriakose, Circle Inspector of Piravam and Yunus Kunju, Sub Inspector of Mulanthuruthy are investigating the case. They have arrested the accused, but released on bail due to the political pressure.

Thankachan, Baby, Prince and Sojan are the sons of Bishop Mathews Cor-episcopa.

St. Ignatius Orthodox Syrian Church has more than 1500 members in the parish. Bishop Mathews Cor-episcopa is its vicar. He is also the vicar of Elamkulam Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church in Kochi, where more than 2000 members as the parishoners.

Since last 55 years of priesthood, Mathews Cor-episcopa served about 40 parishes as vicar in Kochy, Kottayam, Niranam, Malabar and Knanaya Dioceses of the Indian Orthodox Church. All the church congregations were having more than 1500 members each as parishoners.

His Holiness Baselios Marhoma Didymos I, the Catholicos of the East and the Supreme Head of the Indian Orthodox Church alongwith Paulose Mar Militheos, the Catholicos Designate and other bishops visited him at the hospital. He condemned the incident.

"Persecution towards Christians and minorities are being continued by the support of government and police authorities. Mathews Cor-episcopa is one of its last victims," Catholicose of the East said.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the director of Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards village bishop. He visited him in the hospital.

Contact Mathews Pulimoottil Cor-episcopa to his Mobile: 0091-949-551-4745; 0091-924-979-0804.

news (with pictures): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews245.html

Christians attacked by Hindu militans; 2 RSS leaders held

2007-09-07T19:53:00.000-07:00

Thiruvanandapuram (Kerala), SVM News, September 7, 2007: A group of Hindu militants attacked Christians and co-labourers on September 4 near Parasuram temple at Tiruvallam in Thiruvanandapuram city, the capital of Kerala state in India.

Jose, George, Santhosh, Bijoy, Jaykrish and Hari were the victims were attacked on Tuesday night by a mob of 15 militants with long swods and other fatal weapons. The victims were seriously injured. They were attacked while going back to the residents after their duty at Archana Bar.

A team of police under E.N. Suresh, Circle Inspector of Police in Nemom Circle, G. Binu, Sub-Inspector of Tiruvallam, T. Satheesh Kumar Crime Branch Sub-Inspector were investigating the case.

Two RSS leaders (Rashtriya Swyam Sevak Sangh, the strong and influential militant group of Hindus) were arrested on September 6.

Sreekumar, 36, son of Damodaran of Thankamany Nivas Poonthura and Lalu, 24, son of Rajendran of Kunnumpala thoppu Vadakke Veedu were the RSS leaders arrested by the police. Sreekumar is Shareerik Shikshanthak Pramukh (leader of the physical training to the militants) and Lalu is the Mukhya Sikshak (branch leader of the militant group) at Edayar branch. They were accused of several cases.

Both were presented before the court and the court remanded them for fourteen days. Police charged them against murdering attempt.

Circle Inspector Suresh told the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that the investigations are more energetic to find out other accusers. They will be held soon.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards christians and minorities. Also he appreciated the immediate action of the police to arrest the accusers, who are the militant leaders.

S. Stanley, 58, a retired government employee martyred for Jesus Christ on February 10 was also under Nemom police circle. Stanley was brutally murdered at his house in front of his wife. The murderers entered the house and stabbed him several times at his back, neck and stomach. Police arrested the accusers. (Read news story of Stanley's murder: http://salemvoice.org/news142.html).

Source: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews244.html

Boy dragged behind horse; youth dragged to death by tractor

2007-09-05T09:49:00.000-07:00

Jalandhar (Punjab, India), SVM News, September 5, 2007: A 10-year-old boy was dragged on a road after being tied behind a horse at village Raowali in Jalandhar District of Punjab state in India.

Etwari Lal was the boy who chased the animal away, following which the owners of the horse tied the boy to the animalThe incident took place on September 3, when the boy, along with his parents, was guarding the field of his landlord and a horse belonging to a member of the influential local Gujjar community.

The ordeal ended only when Etwari cried in pain with severe injuries and his parents raised an alarm.

Etawari Lal said the "horse was grazing and I went to stop it. Some boys from the Gujjar community came and beat me up. They tied me to the horse and dragged me more than a mile."

The injured boy was taken to a hospital and a complaint was lodged with the police.

On Monday, parents of Etwari had alleged that the boy was tied and dragged by horse owed by the members of Gujjar community.

The horse owner told that he got injured accidentally when his leg got entangled with the rope he was holding.

"When the investigation was progressed, parents of the boy approached me for withdrawal of their complaint, most probably after striking a compromise," SHO Sakkatar Singh said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

The parents of the boy is now telling the same statement which the horse owner has said. They do not want anybody to blame for it.

Sarabjit Singh, the Senior Superintendent of Police of Jalandhar said, "We took action the very day the incident was reported. The SHO himself is looking into the case and we have not been informed of any threats that the family is facing."

In a similar incident, a petty thief 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 on August 26 (news story: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews234.html).

In another incident, a 24-year-old man named Ramesh Patel was chained to a tractor, dragged and murdered in Palanpur district of Gujarat state on August 27. A whole village watched yet no one uttered a word.

Ramesh had eloped with a neighbourhood girl he was in love with, but the girl's family tracked them down.

"A group of around 12 people from the family of that girl whom my son used to love had forcibly entered at my home breaking two doors with sharp weapons and took him by chaining him with a tractor, dragged and killed," Sarabhai Patel, Victim's father said to the SVM news.

Police arrested four persons on Wednesday, August 29 in connection with Ramesh's death.

Orginal News (with pictures):

http://salemvoice.org/svmnews243.html

Dalit woman panchayat president face serious caste crisis

2007-09-04T16:27:00.000-07:00

(Paul Ciniraj)

Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu, India) SVM News, September 4, 2007: Chandralekha Sankaran, a Dalit woman is the present president of Athichanallur panchayat, near Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. Previously this position was held by Shanker Ganesh, a Thevar, an upper caste man.

After the last election, Shankar Ganesh was elected only as the the vice-president of the panchayat.

In fact, Mrs. Chandralekha Sankaran became the panchayat president, because Athichanallur was converted into a reserved panchayat before the last local body elections.

But now the panchayat facing a serious caste crisis.

Ganesh Sankar, the vice-president has the majority support of the ward members by the base of castes. The six ward members comprised three Thevars, two Dalits and one Nadar. So Ganesh causing delays in the panchayat works.

Any hopes of exercising his will over the panchayat had been quashed since Chandralekha would brook no interference with her duty.

"The vice-president is doing everything to stop me from functioning. He does not like me sitting on a chair in his presence," Chandralekha said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Unable to bear his caustic comments, Chandralekha lodged a complaint with the police, who refused to take action but forced her to reach a compromise on Ganesh's terms.

Ganesh Sankar had also instigated a lady named Arumuga Vadivu and lodged another complaint to the High Court which stated that eight men in the village had molested her, including Chandralekha's husband.

Chandralekha approached the High Court stating that this case had been foisted on the Dalits due to the election rivalry, for Thevars could not accept a Dalit as their president of the panchayat.

High Court ordered the local police to lodge a First Information Report regarding this issue. But Dalits do not expect to get justice from the police. In the judiciary they had faith.

Source: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews242.html

Dalit woman beaten to death, man burnt to death in UP

2007-09-04T16:26:00.001-07:00

(Paul Ciniraj)

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh, India), SVM News, September 4, 2007: An elderly Dalit woman named Hirawati, 60, beaten to death by four upper caste women over a petty dispute in the city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on September 3.

She was allegedly beaten to death in Chitaipur locality under the Lanka police circle area. She was pushed by one of the women following an argument after water spilled out of her bucket.

Hirawati died on the spot due to the severe attack.

Police officials said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that four persons were arrested who had been involved for the murder of dalit woman Hirawati.

Meanwhile another 45-year-old Dalit man, Brahmadas, was allegedly burnt to death by his employers at Simbhalka village of Muzaffarnagar in UP on Friday, 31 August.

And also a Dalit woman was allegedly raped by two persons at village Sirpoi in Shajapur in Madhya Pradesh, police said on Thursday, August 30.

Source: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews241.html

Elderly Christian lady murdered; Inspector killed on the way

2007-08-31T17:27:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-30T17:13:00.000-07:00

(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

2007-08-29T16:14:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-29T10:09:00.000-07:00

(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

2007-08-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-28T08:50:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-27T18:08:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

(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

2007-08-20T18:05:00.001-07:00

(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

2007-08-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-18T02:35:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-16T18:02:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-12T14:37:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-09T10:36:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-07T12:01:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-06T23:14:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

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.

Two catholic nuns arrested in Orissa accused false case

2007-07-29T02:32:00.000-07:00

Mayurbhanj (Orissa in India), SVM News, July 29, 2007: Two catholic nuns were arrested on July 28 at Baripada in Mayurbhanj District in Orissa, where Australian Missionary Graham Staines and two sons were burnt alive in their jeep.

Sister Mary Sebastine (57) and Sister Prema Thomas (62) of the Bangalore based congregation of St Ann's Sisters were arrested and taken to Bodosahi police station on Monday at 5.00 am. and then shifted to the Baripada and detained them.

Legally, women cannot be detained or arrested between sunset and sunrise; but those nuns were taken to the police station at early in the morning before sunrise without women constables.

Both sisiters are under police custody accusing them false case with non-bailable charges of IPC 323 and 506 against forcible conversion and torturing students.

"Nuns were arrested on Sunday morning. But police did not bring them before the court, because of wide searching for some more evidents. So they are still under police custody. Police will bring them to the court on Monday morning. Till then they will be under police custody," Sanjay Kumar Sing, the District Superintendant of Police of Mayurbhanj said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

St. Ann's Sisters running a convent school and a hostel named 'Vijaya Sadana Hostel' for Dalit girls at Baghamara, 30 km from Baripada since 1981, helping them to develope their education and social culture. About 200 girls are accommodated from rural areas and studying at the school.

Two newly admitted inmates Sarojini Murmu (14) of Nachipur village and Anjana Behera (11) of Titial village, studying in IX and V standards had left the hostel to their houses last week without informing the hostel authorities. By the support of Sangh Parivar, a Hindu radicals gruop, the parents of girls complained to the police that sisters of the convent forced them to recite prayers. And the Sangh Parivar forced the police to arrest the sisters.

"There had been not even a single complaint reported before against sister Mary Sebastine and sister Prema Thomas and their convent school and Vijaya Sadana Hostel since last 26 years," Rev. Father Issac Puthanangadi, Diocesan Treasurer of Balasore told.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, also known as Sir Ciniraj Mohamed, the national president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) condemned the arrest of Catholic nuns.

"Christian persecution is being increase widely thoughout India. Many pastors, missionaries, evangelists and believers murdered, beaten and jailed. Churches vandalized. The authorities and the police joining hand in hand in many places with the attackers. Where we have to go for the justice? We request the urgent attention of UN Human Right Commission regarding the attack towards minorities and dalits, especially for the christian persecution," Paul Ciniraj said.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news210.html

A primary school run in a Graveyard and kids get Nightmares

2007-07-26T21:37:00.000-07:00

Kaimur (Bihar in India), SVM News, July 26, 2007: An Indian Urdu primary school is located inside a 200 year old Muslim graveyard at Kohari village in Kaimur district in Bihar State of India, which is about 130 miles from Patna, the capital city of Bihar.

More than 200 children in between 5 to 12 years of age learn their first lessons on reading and writing in this school. Most of the classes are held in the open in the graveyard. The children play and eat also amidst the dead.

It was running in the graveyard for many years. But the children at the school are now complaining of having recurring nightmares about ghosts and have appealed to authorities to shift them from the site.

The school is being run in just two rooms that are not spacious enough to accommodate all students.

The graveyard, however, has over 100 tombs and dozens of fresh graves -- most of them shallow -- dug in recent months. It has further crowded the burial ground.

"I have stopped going to school after many dead people walked out of their graves and came into my dreams, ordering me to reach school on time," said six-year-old Raqib Ansari.

Nuresha Kaitoon, a student, said: "We play and study in the graveyard. When asleep at home, we get weird dreams. Like the one, in which a man with a beard comes shouting at us and orders us to go to school. When it's dark, we are very scared."

Some of the parents have complained that their children are not taking proper sleep. They are afraid of ghosts at their school and it's affecting their health as well.

Iltaf Hussain, parent of a student, said: "The children play and study at the graveyard. When children realise that they are amidst dead men, they get nightmares and are scared."

"They used to play and study together and finish their lunch boxes while sitting on top of concrete graves but now the ghosts have come to haunt them at night and they are falling ill," Riyazuddin Ansari, father of another student said.

"We have no other option, but to send our children to the graveyard school. Because the next nearest school is at least four hours away from our village. It is not possible for us to admit our little children such far away," Naseem Ahmad told to the SVM News Service.

"It is really an unusual school, as children spend hours surrounded by graves," said Majeed Ansari, an elderly person of Kohari village who is one of the founders of the school.

"We started this school in the 60s in a thatched hut in the graveyard, as there was no other place to set up it. The villagers did not object since nobody was ready to donate a small piece of land for it," Majeed Ansari told to Paul Ciniraj, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries and SVM News Service. "Though most students in the school are Muslims, it does have dozens of Hindu children on its rolls," he continued.

"A few years ago the local administration built three rooms for the school following the intervention of village head. However, one of three rooms is being used as the school office while the other two are not big enough to accommodate hundreds of children," Majeed Ansari added.

School teachers admit that some parents have complained about evil spirits and ghost haunting their children. Several horror stories have also been doing the rounds for years. Rumours say children, who attend the school, are given sweets and chocolates by ghosts.

Authorities in densely populated Bihar said they were trying to provide new land for the school.

"Maybe the dead are not enjoying the noise inside the graveyard any more, but we are looking into the matter," said Ram Yash Singh, a village council official.

Hundreds of children at the school accompanied by their parents, marched to the office of a senior district official, asking for the school to be shifted away from the graveyard before last week.

If God willing, Salem Voice Ministries pray and plan to start a village school over there as its mission. We look unto God for it. SVM director said.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news209.html

50 year old Christian stoned and beaten to death in Kerala

2007-07-25T08:18:00.000-07:00

Idukki (Kerala in India), SVMNews, July 25, 2007: A group of seven hindu youth forced entered into a Christian house and killed the house owner on July 23 at Helibriya, near Elappara in the Highrange District called Idukki of Kerala state in India.

Paulraj, 50, was brutally murdered on Monday evening.

K.M. Raju, a neighboring hindu led the other people to Paulraj's house to kill him.

Few days ago Paulraj's cow entered Raju's cultivated land. Raju became angry and cruelly beaten the cow. And there was a quarrel going on in between two houses.

In connection with this incident, Prince, the younger son of Paulraj and Soman, the son of Raju had a fight on Monday evening. Suddenly Raju gathered his team and they entered the house of Paulraj to kill him.

Paulraj tried to escape when the attackers came to the house. But they stoned him and he was fallen down. Then the attackers beaten him to death with steel pipes and sticks. Prakash, the eldor son of Paulraj said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Maria Selvi, wife of Paulraj was also severely beaten by the murderers.

The dead body of Paulraj was sent to Kottayam Medical College for the post mortem.

"Raju is fanatic and gathers hindu youths to give training against Christians," says a local christian, who afraid to tell the name.

P.K.G. Simon, the Deputy Superintendant of Police of Kattappana investigating the case. Raju, Balan, Anil Kumar, Pal, Sibin, Soman and Anish were arrested.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries and condemned the incident. He visited the victim's house and prayed for the family members that they may be zealed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ for a mighty protection. He appreciated the police for the quick action of arresting murderers.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news208.html

Female Foetuses Recovered in Orissa from a Waste Dump

2007-07-23T16:19:00.000-07:00

Nayagarh (Orissa in India), SVM News, July 23, 2007: State police recovered more than 30 body parts of female babies from an abandoned well near a maternity clinic on July 22 near Nayagarh town. Nayagarh is one of the eastern districts of Orissa state in India.

Forensic tests are being carried out on the remains following the raid at Nayagarh on Sunday. Police said they raided an area outside Nayagarh following a tip off.

"We found skulls and bones in some biological waste. We have seized them and they have been sent for chemical examination," Rajesh Kumar, the District Superintendent of Police of Nayagarh said.

The foetuses were buried inside a pit in a plot of a land belonging to a maternity clinic owner. The clinic owner and manager have now been taken into custody.

Officials say it is not possible at this stage to say exactly how many bodies were found in the bags. "We cannot put any numbers. We have to wait for the details of the investigation," B.K. Sharma, the crime branch inspector general of Orissa said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

The state government has now ordered an inquiry into the matter.

At 901 females to 1000 males, Nayagarh district has the worst sex ratio in Orissa. It's no coincidence that it also has over 12 private nursing homes and ultrasound clinics. "We need to find out what goes in these ultrasound centers," says Santosh Kumar Mishra, the Deputy Director of Health (Nutrition).

Similar incidents have been reported from other parts of the country in recent months, raising concerns about India's dwindling female population.

Female foeticide is believed to be one of the main reasons for the skewed sex ratio in India.

Renuka Chowdhary, central minister for Women and Child Development of India said the government plans to monitor all pregnancies to prevent female foeticide.

In June, police arrested the owner of a clinic near Delhi on suspicion of illegally aborting female foetuses. The arrest followed a raid at the clinic in Gurgaon in Haryana state. Officials said the remains of several foetuses were found in a well nearby.

Last year, a surprise raid in Patiala district in Punjab province unearthed the remains of at least 50 female foetuses from a well by a private clinic.

"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 woman foetus? 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," Ciniraj continued.

News at SVM site (with updated news of July 24):

http://salemvoice.org/news207.html

Christian missionary institution workers attacked

2007-07-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

Satna (Madhya Pradesh in India), SVM News, July 23, 2007: Four social workers of a Christian missionary institution were allegedly beaten up by masked assailants at Satna in Madhya Pradesh State in India on July 18.

The workers of Karunalaya (House of Mercy), a Delhi-based voluntary organisation running the orphanage and offering services to the poor were attacked with sticks and severely injured, police officials said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

The injured Christian social workers were identified as Johan, Ajish, Xavier and Samuel.

Around 14 masked men arrived by five motorcycles on Wednesday evening at the Karunalaya Christian institution and attacked them.

Senior police officers went to the scene and rushed the injured to the District Hospital. A case has been registered against the unidentified assailants and attempts were on to trace them.

"Though the cause of attack was not known, police did not rule out the involvement of some communal organisation," Amit Saxena, the city police superintendent said.

The Christian communities expressed anguish over the incident and sought police protection from the Superintendent of Police Kamal Singh Rathore.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the national president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) condemned the attack towards Karunalaya Institution and asked the government to find out and arrest the attackers immediately.

Earlier also, Christian community workers were assaulted at Jabalpur and other places in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh allegedly by Bajrang Dal workers.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news206.html

Korean Evangelical Churches in Afghanistan in the Spotlight

2007-07-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

SVM News Service
July 22, 2007

Kandahar (Afghanistan): The work of Korean evangelical churches in Afghanistan is in the spotlight again after 23 members of a church were kidnapped by Taliban insurgents on Thursday. Last August, Korean evangelical churches were prevented by the Korean and Afghan governments at the 11th hour from holding what they said was a ¡°peace march¡± of some 2,000 born-again Christians.

Churches say some 100 Korean missionaries from a dozen organizations and churches are in Afghanistan. Most are focusing on volunteer activities rather than openly preaching the gospel. The Rev. Kwon Sung-chan, who worked in Afghanistan before the Taliban took power, said, "In the past, foreigners could enter Afghanistan only through Pakistan. But I understand there are more routes into the country these days and it¡¯s much easier to get entry visas, so a lot of Korean Christians are working there."

According to Evangelicals who have been to Afghanistan, many go to Afghanistan despite the danger because there is so much to do. Choi Han-woo, the secretary general of the Institute of Asian Culture and Development who organized last year's rally, said, "The history of Afghanistan is reminiscent of Korea's modern history in that the country has been invaded by foreign forces many times and went through a civil war recently. There are many things we can do to help it in the postwar rehabilitation process." He said missionary work is challenging but rewarding at the same time.

Since the end of the U.S.-led war in 2002, 400 to 500 Korean evangelicals have visited the country every year for medical volunteer work and to offer education for children and youths, advice on information technology, and advice on agriculture. During the vacations, many go on short-term missions. Local missionaries help each church or organization locate the targets. The kidnapped members of the Saemmul church in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province were apparently on such a short-term mission.

In an interview with the Arabic satellite TV channel Al Jazeera on Saturday, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a purported spokesman for the Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, said that the detained Koreans were carrying out "missionary activities." He added, "Afghanistan is an Islamic republic where conversion from Islam or attempting to convert Muslims is regarded as a serious crime in several areas." Islam experts say this is not based on hostility to Christianity itself but because Islam condemns apostasy.

Choi Jin-young, secretary general of the Korea Middle East Association, said, "Due to this rule, Islamic countries ban missionary work although they do not make an issue of faith, be it Christianity or Islam." Lee Hee-soo, a professor at Hanyang University, said, "The Taliban regard missionary work itself as a crime that threatens the foundation of their country and society."

Some Muslim countries even curb Islamic proselytizing beyond certain boundaries, citing a verse in the Koran that says, "There is no compulsion in religion." Last November, the Kazakh government punished an Islamic missionary organization for lecturing at a Mosque without government permission. Even in Turkey, a secular country, open missionary work by other religions is often held in check.

Source: The Chosen Ilbo

News at SVM site (with pictures): http://salemvoice.org/news205.html

2007-07-18T23:05:00.000-07:00

3 years of 95 School Children burnt to death

Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu in India), SVM News, July 18, 2007: It was on July 16, 2004, ninety five children, including 47 girls, all aged between seven and nine, were charred to death and 18 others sustained burn injuries in the fire mishap at Kumbakonam Sri Krishna Aided School near Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu in India.

An unattended stove under thatched roof, cramped, unventilated classrooms, locked gates and one narrow stairway - when the fire broke out at the school. There was just no way out for children trapped inside.

A team of the Christian missionary organisations called "Salem Voice Ministries" and the "Baseelia Foundation (for charities, child care and relief service)" visited Kumbakonam at the following day of the tragedy. They attended the funeral services of few children and visited the injured at the hospitals.

They distributed toys, soft clothes to wear over burnt bodies and medicines for the injured children and helped to bury some of the dead bodies too. Still they visit them often as a follow up ministry and sharing the love of Jesus Christ.

Recently this team visited them on last Monday, the 16th of July, the memorial day of the School fire tragedy, and conducted a prayer service. Rev. Paul Ciniraj, Director of the Salem Voice Ministries shared the Word of God.

Three years after the school kids were murdered, memories of the nightmare still haunt the town. The school has been shut and the school authorities are determined that no more lives will be lost due to lack of proper precautions.

“We need to get a certificate from the fire department every year. We have fire extinguishers on every verandah we teach our students the fire drill as well,” says headmaster of Town High school P.Soundararajan.

But what the authorities won't admit on camera is the fact that government schools in Kumbakonam are still ill-equipped to deal with disasters.

All schools have buckets filled with sand to counter fires and emergency exits. Students are also taught basic evacuation drill. But the latest fire fighting equipments are simply out of their reach.

Though survivors of the Kumbakonam school fire tragedy have overcome the trauma to some extent with grit and determination over the last three years, most of them are still scared even of the sight of fire.

While the burn injuries have healed, the scars remain as a cruel reminder of the gory incident.

Over the last three years, much water has flowed under the bridge and of the 18 students who sustained burn injuries, six of them named Mercy, Divya, Kausalya, Raghul, Rajkumar and Vijay have undergone plastic surgeries.

As 11 year old Raghul, who was in fourth standard then, suffered severe burn injuries and was confined to bed for more than a year, he could not pursue his studies for a year. He, however, is now back to school as he has recovered completely after undergoing plastic surgery thrice.

Though he is now in fifth standard in Sri Matha Matriculation School while his peers are studying in sixth standard in the same school, he has no regrets for being one year behind them.

"I have no regrets. I could not go to school for a year as I was confined to bed. Otherwise, I too would have now been in fifth standard along with them. My burn injuries have now completely healed but it pains when I stretch out my right leg. I want to study well and become an engineer,” he told.

According to his mother Selvi, Raghul is scared of fire even now. "In the initial few months, he used to be restless and would wake up in the midst of sound sleep and shout in midnight as he was suffering from trauma. Though now he is now back to normal, he is scared of fire and does not enter the kitchen," Selvi said.

Bhuvaneswari, Raghul's class teacher said, "he is good at studies; and also he is mingling with other students in the class very easily."

Seventy two students of Sri Krishna Aided School were admitted to Sri Madha Matriculation School and they are all good at studies, says vice principal C Vasantha.

"When they were admitted to our school after the tragedy, fee concession, free text books and uniforms were extended to them. Though they were suffering from trauma during the initial few months, they are now back to normal," Vasantha said.

And 18 mothers who lost their children to the flames have undergone recanalization. Two of them, Rosemary and Jayalakshmi conceived, they had a miscarriage in the fourth month.

As the tragedy occurred on a Friday, parents are observing fasting and prayers on Fridays. They do not eat anything on Fridays in memory of their loved ones and spending time for prayers. Evangelists of the Salem Voice Ministries conducting some of the prayers.

Life has moved on, but there's little relief for those who lost their children in the tragedy. A case of negligence filed against the teacher of Sri Krishna Aided School is still pending in the sessions court.

"We protested in Thanjavur outside the court but nothing happened. They made us sit for half-an-hour and sent us back," says the mother of a victim, Mariamma.

Mariamma's pain may be mitigated to an extent once the judgment is passed, but her loss and that of 94 other families are too personal and too large to be ever compensated.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news204.html

2007-07-16T12:38:00.001-07:00

SDA Church members attacked in Guyana

Corentyne (GUYANA), (Stabroek News), July 3, 2007: Bandits on Sunday night attacked and robbed two members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church at Eversham, Corentyne, just after the vehicle they were travelling in developed engine problems.

The robbers, one of whom was armed with a handgun also sexually assaulted the woman during their rampage.

The two, who were attending a religious function in the area, were left abandoned in their car, which the bandits managed to restart and drove some distance away.

Police in a press release said that around 22:00 hrs on Sunday, a man who hails from an East Bank Demerara village and a female member of the Seven Day Adventist Church, who were both attending a religious function at Eversham, Corentyne, were attacked and robbed by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun.

Investigations revealed that the two victims were in a motor vehicle on their way to visit another church member when the vehicle developed engine problems.

While stranded on the road, they were attacked by the men who robbed them of two cell phones, their wristwatches and $15,000.

The release said it was further reported that the two bandits managed to get the vehicle started, after which they placed the victims in the trunk and took them to an area along the Corentyne where the female was sexually assaulted. They were later abandoned in the vehicle at Bloomfield, Corentyne.

The matter is being investigated, the release added.

2007-07-15T16:03:00.000-07:00

Prayer group and aid worker severely attacked in Kerala

Chalakkudi (Kerala in India), SVM News, July 15, 2007: An anti-corruption social worker and an active member of a Christian prayer fellowship was attacked at his house by a group of people at the village Koorkamattom near Chalakkudi in Kerala State in India on July 14.

Anthony Jacob (27) of Padinjrekkara House was the one attacked by the mob on Saturday around 10 at night. The attackers severely beaten him by iron pipes.

Jacob was seriously injured and immediately admitted at St. James Hospital, Chalakkudi.

There were two men came to his house first and asked for Jacob. The household told that he was sleeping. But the men said that they came to seek Jacob's assistance for a mortgage problem they were facing from a bank. So the household woke him up and he came out to meet the men. Immediately more people reached there by car and motorbykes and they all together beaten him severely.

Jacob's friends told to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that he had been threaten before against his christian activities and anti-corruption services.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) condemned the attack towards Anthony Jacob, the anti corruption social worker and the prayer group.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news203.html

2007-07-14T13:20:00.000-07:00

Senior High Court Advocate, Christian, Brutally murdered in Kerala

Kochi (Kerala in India), SVM News, July 14, 2007: Seniour High Court advocate, who is a christian, brutally murdered on 12th of July at Valanjambalam in Kochi of Kerala State in India.

"Advocate M.V. Abraham Mannancheril, 75, was found dead at his office near his residence at about 9 pm on Thursday. The advocate was pushing down by beaten at his head and was pressed at his neck to discontinue breathing. Also there was an attempt of electrocuting him," police officials told the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

The post-mortem examination was done at Alappuzha Medical College.

Fingerprint experts and the scientific investigation team members collected evidence from the spot on Friday. The police team got a brass bangle from the scene of the crime, which is suspected to have some relation to the crime.

The police dog, that was brought to the scene on Thursday, could not find any lead, as the scent trail was lost along the road towards the Ernakulam South Railway Station.

Sources said an examination of the body found minor injuries on the face and neck and a burn mark on the right hand, which is suspected to have been caused by an attempt to electrocute the victim.

No attempt of theft was detected from either the office or house of the deceased. Initial investigation showed that no money was taken from his person or office premises, because there was Rs.15,000 and a golden ring was in his table, which was seen opened . Only his wife Chinnamma was at the residence at the time of the murder.

No one was present at the commercial building complex at which his office was functioning at that time. The deceased owned the building complex.

Advocate Abraham has one son and four daughters. Son, Dr. M.A. Mathew and his wife Dr. Latha Mathew are the surgeons of Kolencherry MOC Medical College, owned by a Christian Church. Another son-in-law, Dr. Peter Zachariah, is a surgeon of Tiruvalla Medical Mission, owned by Brethren Christian Mission.

"Our pappa was a prayerful man and a good supporter of Christian activites. We, the children and our families also working in Christian institutions and supporting christian mission," Dr. Mathew told to Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries and the national President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI).

Local people doubts that either his death is because of christian persecution or related with any of the cases.

P.M. Verghese, the Assistant Commissioner of police investigating the case.

The police also started collecting details of the cases that the deceased was working on at the time of his death. The police suspect more than one person was involved in the crime.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news202.html

2007-07-13T12:43:00.000-07:00

No Lord, but Jesus: Protesters Voice at Hindu prayer in US Senate

Washington, SVM News, July 13, 2007: Christian religious activists briefly disrupted the Hindu prayer in the US Senate on Thursday, the 13th of July, branding his appearance an "abomination."

Invited by the Senate to offer Hindu prayers in place of the usual Christian invocation, Rajan Zed, a Hindu priest and also the director of Interfaith Relations at a Hindu temple in Reno, Nevada, had just stepped up to the podium for the landmark occasion, the protesters interrupted by loudly asking for God's forgiveness for allowing the ''false prayer'' of a Hindu in the Senate chamber.

"Lord Jesus, forgive us father for allowing a prayer of the wicked, which is an abomination in your sight," the first protester shouted. "This is an abomination. We shall have no other gods before you."

Democratic Senator Bob Casey, who was serving as the presiding officer for the morning, immediately asked the sergeant-at-arms to restore order. But they continued to protest as they were headed out the door by the marshals, shouting, "No Lord but Jesus Christ!" and "There's only one true God!"

Police officers quickly arrested them and charged them with disrupting Congress, a misdemeanor. The male protester told an Associated Press reporter, "we are Christians and patriots" before police handcuffed them and led them away.

"We identified the protesters as three and they are Ante Nedlko Pavkovic, Katherine Lynn Pavkovic and Christan Renee Sugar," officials said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service. "It seems they represent the Christian Right anti-abortion group named Operation Save America," official added to the SVM News.

The Mississippi-based American Family Association has been urging its members for several days to object to the prayer because Zed would be "seeking the invocation of a non-monotheistic god."

Rajan Zed, clad in saffron with a prominent tilak on his forehead, then nervously went through the invocation. "Let us pray," he began, "We meditate on the transcendental glory of the deity supreme, who is inside the heart of the earth, inside the life of the sky and inside the soul of heaven. May he stimulate and illuminate our minds."

He was invited by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to give the day's opening prayer.

2007-07-12T10:06:00.000-07:00

Doctor's bribe not paid; Dalit woman gave birth under tree

Jagatsinghpur (Orissa in India), SVM News, July 12, 2007: Doctor refused attention insistant on his bribe, a poor dalit woman gave birth to a child under a tree in Orissa in India on 10th of July.

The shocking incident took place near the government hospital in the coastal Jagatsinghpur district, around 100 km from Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa on Tuesday. It came to light on Wedneday after the women's husband lodged a police complaint against the doctor.

Ranju Sethi, 23, was the woman came from Jhimani village to the Community Health Centre at Kujang town with her husband after she started experiencing labour pains.

Abhaya Kumar Dash, a doctor at the centre, demanded Rs.2,000 to admit the woman to the hospital, but the poor family failed to pay that fees.

"When I expressed my inability to pay the amount the doctor abused us and refused to admit my wife in the hospital," woman's husband Gandhrab Sethi said to the police. "Finally my wife could not bear the labour pain and delivered a baby under a tree outside the hospital," he continued.

"It is government-run Comunity Health Center and doctor gets a good figure as salary from the government. So we never not he would ask bribe from the poor dalit villager like me," Gandhrab Sethi told to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Dr. Abhaya Kumar Dash Dash fled the scene after some 200 locals demanded action.

Dr. Binod Kumar Mishra, the Superintendent of the hospital said that they are investigating the case and a report will be submitted to the chief district medical officer within two days.

2007-07-11T13:40:00.001-07:00

Abducted Christian Boy's body Found in Track in Kerala

Thiruvanandapuram (Kerala in India), SVM News, July 11, 2007: The dead body of a 14 year old Christian boy was found on the railway track today near All Saints College, Thiruvanandapuram, the capital city of Kerala. He was a tenth standard student of St Josephs Higher Secondary School.

It has been alleged that two persons, who abducted him yesterday night might have murdered him.

The boy identified as Nithin, was the only son of Napolean and Nirmala, residing behind G V Raja School. It was the local people who found the body today morning. His purse was found lying fifty meters away from the body.

"It was found from the body that the backside of the skull was broken. Also noticed the cause of the death is not by an accident of a train," police officials told to Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the national president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries. "It might be a beaten to death," they said.

His relatives alleged that two persons, who came in a car, took him saying that his father was not well. His father and their neighbour received calls from the boy saying that he has been kidnapped.

Immediately Napolean contacted Rev. Louis, the parish priest of Kannanthura St. Peter's Church and they have given complaint at Valiathura Police Station. The police have started investigation in the case.

The calls were made from a public booth near Karikakkam.

"Nithin was a cool person and also a cadet of National Cadet Corps (NCC). There is nothing for him to commit suicide, but it must be a well planned murder; probably a persecution," Nithin's father Napolean said.

Napolean is an employee of Canara Bank at Chirayinkil. Nithin's mother is Nirmala. His only sister Nimmi is a nursing student in Bangalore.

Napolean and family is a prayer fellowship member of the Salem Voice Ministries in Thiruvanandapuram. Paul Ciniraj visited them with deep mourning and said in the condolence message that Nithin was a beautiful flourishing flower in our Lord's garden and he was plucked by the Gardener Jesus Himself to decorate His table. No doubt he is with our Lord Jesus and we shall meet him face to face on that beautiful shore in our Lord's great and wonderful Day.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news198.html

2007-07-10T08:08:00.000-07:00

Iraqi Christian Couple of US Embassy Kidnapped and Murdered

Baghdad, persecution4christ, July 10, 2007: An elderly Christian couple of Iraq, who were the staff of US Embassy in Baghdad had been kidnapped and murdered at the end of May.

Mr. Ryan Crocker, the US Ambassador in Iraq confirmed it on July 8 that two of his staff members had been abducted and murdered in Baghdad.

"The two were an elderly couple, both Christian Iraqis. The man was kidnapped in May while coming out of his bank, and the kidnappers subsequently called his wife and demanded a ransom of 30,000 US Dollars."

"The woman raised the money on her own and attempted to deliver it to the kidnappers, but she herself was abducted in the process and both were murdered," embassy staff added.

On May 30, a radical Islamic insurgent group, the Islamic State of Iraq, posted a message on the jihadi website Al Firdos, claiming responsibility for the murders and saying that they were "executing God's judgment on two of the American Embassy employees."

They also warned that they would continue to kill "the crusaders, their employees, and those who lick their shoes."

Source: Persecution for Christ
(http://persecution4christ.blogspot.com)

2007-07-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

Myanmar Lutheran Pastor beheaded in Indo-Burma Border

Tonzang (Myanmar), SVM News, July 7, 2007: A Burmese pastor was abducted and beheaded by an unidentified group on July 4 at Tangnuam village near Churachanpur town in Manipur State of northeast India. He was buried in Cikha sub-town of Tonzang Township in Myanmar on July 5.

Pastor Pau Za Khen (62) of the Upper Myanmar Evangelical Lutheran Church was kidnapped in a car at about 5 in the evening on Wednesday by four men from his daughter's home.

The mutilated body was found the next day early in the morning in a paddy field at the outside of the town. The pastor's hands were tied at the back and his head had been separated from the torso and was blind-folded.

The body was taken to the Churachandpur District Hospital in India for post mortem and sent to Khen Maan village of Myanmar by car on Thursday itself for the burial.

He served as a pastor in Khen Maan village in Cikha sub-town of Tonzang Township in Chin state in Myanmar. He was the founder chief of the Khen Maan village, which is about three miles from the Indo-Burma border. Both the Indian Army and Manipuri rebels used to visit this village.

"Visitors and traders from Myanmar to Manipur are shocked on hearing the pastor was brutally murdered", a church member of the Upper Myanmar Evangelical Lutheran Church said to Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries and the SVM News Service by telephone.

The pastor used to come and trade in charcoal and wood in Churachandpur in India for his earnings. There are number of visitors and traders coming and going daily from Myanmar (Burma) to Churachandpur of Manipur in India.

"He was killed while he was staying in Churachandpur. There the killers are still at large. The Churachandpur police have so far been unable to identify them," an Indian man told to SVM News Service.

News at the SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news195.html

2007-07-07T19:17:00.000-07:00

Militants told Pak Christians to convert or face death

Islamabad (Pakistan), SVM News, July 7, 2007: Islamist militants in Pakistan have threatened to kill 10 Christian clerics in Southern Punjab's Khanewal district if they did not "embrace Islam and stop preaching Christianity."

"We are feeling insecure and unsafe today because of these threatening letters from Muslim fanatics," said Provincial lawmaker Naveed Amer Jeeva, coordinator of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA).

Ten Christian clerics have received threatening letters from unidentified people warning them to "embrace Islam, stop preaching Christianity and quit your faith otherwise the countdown of your life has begun".

A state of fear prevails in Khanewal district's Shanti Nagar because the authorities have failed to address their security needs, said Pastor Mehtab Masih at a press conference yesterday to highlight the issue.

Threatening letters have been received by Union Council Naib Nazim Fazal Masih, Councillor Kalim Dutt, Pastor Robin, Capt Irshad of the Salvation Army Church, Pastor Boez Enver, Pastor Lemuel Calavary and Joseph Daniel, The SVM News Service said.

Lawmaker Jeeva said Pastor Mukhtar Barkat had received such a threatening letter and was assassinated on January 5, 2004 in Khurrampura Khanewal.

On June 12 Christians in Shantinagar village had also received anonymous letters written in Urdu asking them convert to Islam or leave the area.

The letters were sent to 10 religious, political and social leaders of this mainly Christian village.

Shantinagar village, which has about 3,000 Christians and 500 Muslim residents, was formed by the Salvation Army Church before the Partition of ithe sub-continent in 1947.

-- PTI

News at the SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news196.html

BJP Government Behind Christian Persecution in Madhya Pradesh

2007-07-05T16:19:00.000-07:00

Bhopal (India), SVM News, July 5, 2007: The christian ministers of the churches and the members of the christian community are being assaulted and also its religious and educational institutions are being targeted since the rightist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came into power in central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. So that the christians feel insecure for their lives and properties.

At the same time the organizations RSS, Sangh Parivar, Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad are fulfilling their designs. These movements have a close relationship with the BJP in one way or the other.

After the unsuccessful bid by the BJP government to pass the Religious Conversion Bill in the state Assembly, these organizations have become more ferocious and at the behest of the BJP government they are unleashing their terror tactics on the institutions run by the Christian community day by day and assaulting their church priests and principals of schools.

Mr. Ajay Singh Rahul Bhaiya, Member of Legislative Assambly (MLA), and also a former minister of Madhya Pradesh made the above allegations in a statement issued here on Wednesday, the 4th of July.

Citing the recent attack on the community, Ajay Singh, who is son of Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, said that the so-called elements made a murderous attacked on Pastor Amos Singh and vandalized his church, school and the residence at Arjun Nagar in Reva district on July 2.

Though the police have registered a case under section 120 B, but no action was taken so far and that gave encouragement to the accused and they are roaming freely in the entire city and terrorizing the members of the community, he told to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Regretting the passiveness of the state government, Singh said that in 2004 in Jhabua, targeting the Christian Community, these elements first raped a minor girl in the church premises and then unleashed attacks on the religious institutions in the entire district. But the then Chief Minister Ms Uma Bharti neither took action nor put a rein on the organizations responsible for the incident.

As a result, encouraged by the inaction of the government, the activists of these organizations attacked a church in Indore in 2005 and then in 2006 churches were ransacked in Bhopal, Jabalpur, Hoshangabad, Itarsi, Betul and other places, he further added.

He lamented that what is more sad state of affairs that the Bajrang Dal activists had stoned the prayer congregation of the Christians and the police stood as mute spectators. "This shows the biased attitude of the state government towards the people of the community, besides escapism from the constitutional responsibility of the government. And for that Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is directly responsible," Ajay Singh added.

Ajay Singh demanded from the Chief Minister that along with the Christian community security should be provided to the minority communities and to give special attention towards the dwindling law and order situation of the state, so that peaceful atmosphere prevails in the state.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, national President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of india (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards Pastor Amos Sing and his institutions. He appealed to the authorities, stated that Christian persecution is increasing in India day by day and the central and state governments are becoming failure to stop it.

"Governments have responsibility to protect the lives and properties of christians and other minority communities. But we doubt some of the governments supporting anti christian activities to increase christian persecution," Paul Ciniraj said.

Related News (with picture): http://salemvoice.org/news192.html