Sangh Parivar

The district committee of the Maoists has 22 members, 70 per cent of whom are Christians. Though close links have existed between the Maoists and the Christians, the radical Left has so far never intervened in religious matters.

The first reports of Christians taking up weapons surfaced in December last year after nearly 100 churches and Christian institutions were burnt by rioting Parivar mobs on Christmas eve.

During the backlash, in Brahmanigaon, villagers said they were shot at allegedly by Pano Christians from neighbouring villages.

"Panos are the real culprits. They come from the next village," one of the village woman had said.

During a house-to-house search the police found 20 guns and ammunition were found in Christian homes in Sikaram village, close to Brahmanigaon.

Security analysts believe that repeated provocation by the Sangh Parivar through fiery speeches and rallies demanding that conversions must stop have forced the Christians to retaliate.

In July this year, following clashes over cow slaughter, former MP Nakul Nayak, a Pano Christian, warned action will be taken against Swami Lakhananda if the administration did not take action within 10 days.

On August 22, the Swami handed over a letter from an unknown group threatening to kill him but no effort was made to strengthen his security.

A day later he was shot dead by armed men. Their identity is still not known.

Top police sources who have been monitoring the security situation in Kandhmal said this time the Christians were prepared especially in areas where they dominate.

Going by the evidence, sources also say, the violence was much more organised, a sign that there was a build-up both within the Hindu and Christian groups since the December devastation, in which Christians had suffered extensively.

But it isn't hard to procure weapons in Kandhmal, a tribal dominated area. Adivasis have always used traditional bows and arrows and axes for poaching deer and rabbit.

With time, they have learnt to put together crude, country-made rifles to shoot birds. Police say several manufacturing units can be found deep inside the forests.

But for the first time, investigation teams found that crude bombs and country made firearms had been used in the communal clashes. A police team was shot at in Barkhama village. Two policemen reportedly died.

Digi, a Hindu village, is still smouldering. Days after saffron gangs attacked nearby Pano villages, armed men came after midnight, attacked villagers there and set fire to shops and houses. The sarpanch was brutally assaulted, his hands and legs cut by swords.

"They have had fights before they have even threatened us. But for the first time Christians have picked up arms," said one villager.

The church denies this.

"It is a lie. The church never supports violence. We want peace. We want development. We would never condone violence," said the Archbishop.

Over the years despite several flare-ups, the Orissa government has done little to control the growth of sectarian groups, first Hindu and now Christian.

"The situation in Orissa does not augur well for inter-faith relationships in the country. While there is certainly a case to be made to rein in the Sangh Parivar, especially the VHP and the Bajrang Dal, I think it offers an opportunity for the Christian hierarchy to dwell on the consequences of what some might term 'militant' forms of Christian mission," said Australia-based author and teacher, Pradip Ninan Thomas, who studied the emergence of Christian fundamentalism in Tamil Nadu.

Now both Hindus and Christians are choosing to define their own destinies through violence.

A number of conservative para-church organisations and new churches are involved in a 'numbers' game and conversion and contribute to undoing the good work done by the Roman Catholics and Protestants in the areas of health, education and development. When there is a backlash, all Christians irrespective of whether they are involved in militant forms of mission or not become fair game for Hindu militants," said Pradip Ninan Thomas.

Kandhmal is on the threshold of becoming another laboratory of hate.