Most of the murders of Christian Adivasi native people and the pillage of churches by radical Hindus in the Indian federal state of Orissa remain unpunished. This was emphasised by the Society for Threatened Peoples STP (Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker GfbV) on Friday. "The surviving victims of the pogroms of the autumn of 2008 still fear to return to their home villages in case of new attacks”, said Ulrich Delius, Asia consultant of the international human rights organisation with its centre in Göttingen. "For 18 months after the beginning of the dreadful riots Christians are still being intimidated and threatened to prevent any effective prosecution of the criminals.” More than 50,000 Christians had to flee after the beginning of the pogroms in the Kandhamal district on 23rd August 2008. 75 people were killed, 5,347 of their houses and 252 churches were destroyed. Some 6,000 refugees still have to lead miserable lives in the slums of the provincial capital of Bhubaneshwar. Several thousand Christian Adivasi, who sought refuge in other federal states, do not dare to return home.

The STP India expert, Dr. James Albert, who is at present conducting research on the situation of the Adivasi native people concerned in Orissa, reported by telephone that only a third of the 1,200 Christians formerly living in the village of Badimunda had returned for fear of new attacks. "Hindu gangs armed with sticks, guns and swords break in constantly in Badimunda from tent to tent, intimidating the Christian people who have returned. Radical Hindus threaten with beating, rape and pillage, insisting that the Adivasi either convert to Hinduism or disappear. They constantly plunder their tents. The village shop refuses to sell food to the Christians.” The native inhabitants informed the STP expert that they are no longer allowed to use the shared taxis. Christians are reported by radical Hindus to the police with arbitrary charges, the intention being to silence the religious minority with criminal charges. "It is quite irresponsible for the authorities to force the refugees to return to their native villages in view of this climate of violence.”

"Fear and desperation are being stirred up among the Christians by the sluggish way in which the prosecution of pogroms committed by Hindus is being carried out”, criticised Delius. Although in spite of acts of violence Christians lodged 3,232 complaints with the police, only 832 cases have been followed up for prosecution, stated the Catholic archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubabeshwar, Raphael Cheenath. Only 89 persons have been sentenced, mostly with mild penalties, 303 being acquitted. In nine out of ten murder cases the cases were dropped for lack of evidence.