The Global India Faith Tabernacle (GIFT) ministries in associated with the Gajapati Minority Front observed a Kandhamal Day here on August 25 as 10 years back on August 25, 2008 violence on the Christians was unleashed in the district.
The meeting was presided over by GIFT founder director Rev Amodh Kumar Bardhan.
In 2008 during this brutal invasion on the Christian community, around 393 churches and worship laces which belonged to the Adivasi Christians and Dalit Christians were destroyed, around 6,500 houses were destroyed, over100 people were killed, over 40 women were subjected to rape, molestation and humiliation and several educational, social service and health institutions were destroyed and looted.
Over 12,000 children lost their education. More than 56,000 people were forced to flee from Kandhamal as per the information, said Bardhan. Among others, PlM director Rev Santa Murthy, Tiffany Wright, Pastor Joseph Pani ,Rev lalit Parichha and many other Christian leaders from different parts of Gajapati district attended the meeting.
A candle light rally and a silent prayer were held in remembrance of those Christian brothers and sisters.
Notably, seven innocent Christians from the district are languishing in jail following the mysterious murder of Swami laxmananda Saraswati on August 23, 2008 that triggered the communal aggression on the Christians.