Sun, 07/02/2010 - 8:13am Kandhamal promises-Fed and state govts failed?

PM, CM have not delivered on Kandhamal promises'
Bhubaneswar, Feb 6

Church leaders today alleged that promises made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of providing adequate relief to those affected by the 2008 riots in Orissa's Kandhamal district had not been fulfilled.
"Both the prime minister and chief minister have not fulfilled their promises to the victims immediately after the riots and the people have been left to their fate," Cuttack- Bhubaneswar diocese Archbishop Raphael Cheenath told reporters here.
Demanding full compensation for re-building damaged houses, he said that the administration had arbitrarily fixed Rs 50,000 for fully destroyed ones even though the cost was much more.

"Altogether 5,347 houses were damaged and over 75 people were killed in the riots, but the government is not giving compensation to all the affected," he claimed.
The Archbishop also spoke of taking legal help to ensure that no riot victims would live through another summer and monsoon without shelter.
"I will have no hesitation in again approaching the Orissa High Court or the Supreme Court if the miseries of the people are not ameliorated."

Though the riot victims had filed 3,232 complaints in police stations in Kandhamal, only 832 cases were registered, while 89 persons were convicted and 251 acquitted due to lack of evidence, the Archbishop alleged.

Seeking transfer of district officials, Cheenath said "the chief minister must investigate the role of the district administration including the collector, block and tehsil officers and others".
"It is strange that officers in whose presence the violence took place and thousands of houses were burnt are still in office and are declaring that there is peace in the district."

Sun, 07/02/2010 - 10:11pm Believer arrested in Puttur, Karnataka

Believer Harish 35 years was arrested just after returning from a friend’s house after prayer on 7th February at 4.30 pm.

The arrest was made on the basis of a false complaint of forceful conversion filed by Bajarang Dal leader Sekhar. Police from Kadaba Police arrested Harish. Believer Harish hails from Mardala Village in Puttur taluk . He has been charged under IPC 149, 295 and 295A. Harish was produced to the Puttur Magistrate's residence in the night and was sent to Mangalore Jail. The police also detained believer Harish's wife Lakshmi, 28 years and their 2 months old baby. The mother and child was released after 5 hours of interrogation.

Believer Harish is a member of New India Church of God., which is ministered by Pastor Sam T Varghese. The church is about 15 years old and has about 35 members.
Please pray for the believer