[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 90 (Thursday, July 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ATROCITIES AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN INDIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 12, 2000

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, recently a list was published of atrocities 
against Christians in India from January to May of this year. It listed 
38 specific incidents just in a period of five months. This should 
indicate the depth of India's religious terrorism against Christians.
  On July 8 and 9, two more churches were bombed. The pattern of Indian 
terrorism against its minorities continues.
  It is not just the Christians who are being attacked. In March, the 
Indian government massacred 35 Sikhs in the village of Chithi 
Singhpora. This was confirmed by two separate investigations. Some of 
our colleagues may deny it, but the evidence is clear. This, too, is 
part of the Indian government's pattern of repression.
  This pattern of repression and terrorism must be stopped. The U.S. 
Congress must take strong action. We should cut off aid to India until 
this terrorism stops. India should be declared a terrorist nation, as 
21 of us recently urged the President to do. And Congress should 
support self-determination for the people of Khalistan, Kashmir, 
Nagaland, and all the minority nations seeking their freedom from 
India. Self-determination is the cornerstone of democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit the atrocity list I mentioned earlier into the 
Record for the information of my colleagues.

                ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS (JANUARY-MAY 2000)
              [Sources: the Indian Currents, 21 May, 2000]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  S. No.          Date            Place/State           Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
        1  January...........  Philliaur, Punjab  Sts. Peter and Paul
                                                   Church robbed.
        2  January...........  Philliaur, Punjab  St. Joseph's Convent
                                                   robbed.
        3  Jan. 3............  Gajapati, Orissa.  17, Dalit Christian
                                                   house torched, 12
                                                   killed.
        4  Jan. 9............  Panipat, Haryana.  Fr. Vikas of St.
                                                   Mary's Church
                                                   attacked.
        5  Feb. 4............  Rajgarh, MP......  Hostel forced to
                                                   closed down.
        6  Feb. 20...........  Pudiyattuvil,      Statues of Mary
                                Kerala.            destroy.
        7  Feb. 20...........  Sevit, Gujarat...  Protestant Church
                                                   damaged.
        8  March 6...........  Mysore, Karnataka  BD threatens Bishop
                                                   Roy to install Hindu
                                                   statue in Churches.
        9  March 8...........  Basara, Panipat,   Isa Mata Church
                                Haryana.           attacked.
       10  March 12..........  Panipat, Haryana.  St. Mary's Church
                                                   attacked.
       11  March 12..........  Suryanagar. UP...  Media Computer Centre
                                                   robbed.
       12  March 17..........  Changanacherry,    St. Berchman's College
                                Kerala.            Chapel desecrated,
                                                   robbed.
       13  March 31..........  Agra UP..........  Police lock up two
                                                   priests without
                                                   charge.
       14  March 31..........  Bulandshaher, UP.  Nirmala School
       15  March 31..........  Dasna, Masuri, UP  Fr. S. George, Christ
                                                   Vihar School attacked
                                                   robbed.
       16  April 3...........  Panaji, Goa......  Priest and 21
                                                   Catholics wounded by
                                                   police.
       17  April 5...........  Barwatoli, Bihar.  5 Oraon Catholic
                                                   tribals kidnapped, 2
                                                   killed.
       18  April 6...........  Mathura, UP......  Sacred Heart School
                                                   Principal Sr. Maria
                                                   Pereira attacked.
       19  April 7...........  Belatanr, Giridih  Holy Cross Convent
                                Bihar.             watchman shot dead.
       20  April 9...........  Bettiah, Bihar...  Jesuit Social Centre
                                                   (READ) stoned.
       21  April 10..........  Mathura Cantt, UP  Fr. Joseph Dabre, St.
                                                   Dominic School
                                                   attacked.
       22  April 11..........  Kosikalan,         Fr. K.K. Thomas and
                                Haryana.           maid beaten up, house
                                                   looted.
       23  April 11..........  Kosikalan Haryana  St. Teresa's School
                                                   looted, Srs. Mary and
                                                   Gloria beaten.
       24  April 14..........  Khagaria Bihar...  50 Christians in
                                                   Charismatic prayer
                                                   attacked.
       25  April 15..........  Timerpur, Bijnor,  Convent, three
                                UP.                Catholic homes
                                                   attacked.
       26  April 16..........  Babupet, Chanda..  Maharashtra Convent
                                                   tabernacle robbed.
       27  April 21..........  Agra, UP.........  Bajrang Dal attack 14
                                                   neo Christians.
       28  April 22..........  Rajabari, Assam..  Priest and 2 brothers
                                                   seriously beaten in
                                                   Church robbery.
       29  April 22..........  Rewari, Haryana..  Two nuns attacked, hit
                                                   by scooter.
       30  May 3.............  Paricha Jhansi,    Chapel desecrated,
                                UP.                nuns attacked,
                                                   robbed.
       31  May 3.............  Dangs, Gujarat...  13 Evangelist arrested
                                                   for holding prayer.
       32  May 4.............  Patna, Bihar.....  St. Xavier's School
                                                   principal Fr. A.B.
                                                   Peter Sj accused of
                                                   sodomy.
       33  May 5.............  Anabha, Gujarat..  8 Protestant
                                                   missionaries attacked
                                                   with swords, Bibles
                                                   burnt.
       34  May 5.............  Bhojpur, Bihar...  Mary's statue smashed.
       35  May...............  Uchhal Taluka,     Rev. Jhalam Singh
                                Gujarat.           attacked, Church
                                                   damaged.
       36  May 9.............  Nashik,            Protestant Shelter
                                Maharashtra.       School for Tribal
                                                   girls attacked.
       37  May 11............  Indore, MP.......  Fire bomb thrown at
                                                   Dialogue Centre, 3
                                                   churches attacked.
       38  May 11............  Anekal, Karnataka  Anthony Selva, Jesuit
                                                   student stabbed.
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