SOUTH ASIA - House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats

2253The burning of churches continued during the year. For example, on May 12, ahut used as a prayer cottage by Christians in Katiguda village was burned by whatthe local police referred to as ‘‘anti-socials.’’ Also on May 12, in Indore, MadhyaPradesh, assailants threw stones, attempted to set fire to one church, and vandalizedtwo other churches. On May 16, a cottage in Dharakote village that was usedas a place of congregation for local Christians was set on fire. Armed police officerswere deployed to the area, but by year’s end no arrests had been made. On June8, bombs exploded in four churches in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Goa. Theblasts occurred in a Baptist Church in Ongole, Andhra Pradesh; a Catholic churchin Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh; a Catholic church in Wadi, Karnataka; and achurch in Vasco, Goa. The bombs reportedly blew out windows and damaged pews;three persons in Ongole and two in Wadi received minor injuries. During the lastweek of June, a mosque in Gunter, Andhra Pradesh was bombed. None of the localitieshad a history of serious communal tensions before the blasts. In Karnataka policepatrols reportedly were increased at all places of worship, and a special investigativeunit was formed to investigate the bombings. By June 20, nine persons reportedlywere arrested in connection with the blasts in Andhra Pradesh, includinga leading member of a Shi’a Muslim organization (see Section 2.c.). A bomb explodedin the early hours of July 7 at a Lutheran church in Hubli, northern Karnataka,causing minor damage. On the evening of July 8, across town, a bomb exploded atSaint Peter and Paul Church, breaking windows; there were no injuries.Since 1998 there has been increased harassment of Christian aid workers. Manyreport having been hampered in their work through threats, bureaucratic obstacles,and, in some cases, physical attacks on their workers. Several Christian relief organizationshave reported difficulty in obtaining visa renewal for foreign relief workers(see Sections 2.d. and 4).The NHRC expressed its concern at the upsurge of violence against Christians inthe first 6 months of the year, demanding that the Government announce the stepsthat it was taking to protect the Christian community. Speaking in Parliament August18 on the series of church bombings, Home Minister L.K. Advani said that ‘‘theCenter, in consultation with the affected states, will take stern action against thosefound guilty of instigating attacks against Christians.’’Members of militant Hindu organizations (including members of the HinduJagran Manch, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and the Bajrang Dal) reportedly areconcerned about Christian efforts to convert Hindus. They claim that missionariesare forcing or inducing Hindus to convert to Christianity, including economicallydisadvantaged Dalits and tribals. In some cases, Hindus allegedly have reconverted,at times by force, tribals and Dalits belonging to other religions. However, manytribals follow traditional religious practices, and many Christian tribals were notHindu prior to becoming Christian, although they often are considered Hindu by theGovernment and others. In September 1999, Vishw a Hindu Parishad workingpresident Ashok Singhal called for enactment of a law banning forced conversions.Missionaries have been operating schools and medical clinics for many years in tribalareas, including the Dangs district in Gujarat. Tribals, such as those attacked inthe Dangs district in 1998, and Dalits are outside of the caste system and occupythe very lowest position in the social hierarchy. However, they have made socioeconomicgains as a result of the missionary schools and other institutions, whichhave increased literacy among the lowest castes, among other achievements.Other incidents affecting religious minorities during the year occurred in Tripura,at which Christian militants imposed bans on Hindu and Muslim festivals, and inAssam, in which Hindu concern over the continued influx of illegal Muslim immigrantsfrom Bangladesh has grown over the past year (see Section 2.d.). On April17, the secretary of the Noapara Baptist Church in Tripura was arrested with explosivesin his possession. He allegedly was intending to take them to the NLFT.The practice of dedicating or marrying young, prepubescent girls to a Hindu deityor temple as ‘‘servants of God’’ (also known as Devadasis), is reported by HRW tocontinue in several southern states, including Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.Devadasis, who generally are Dalits, may not marry. They are taken from their familiesand are required to provide sexual services to priests and high caste Hindus(see Section 6.c.). Reportedly, many eventually are sold to urban brothels. In 1992the Karnataka state passed the Karnataka Devadasi (Prohibition) Act and called forthe rehabilitation of Devadasis, but this law suffers from a lack of enforcement andcriminalizes the actions of Devadasis. Since Devadasis are by custom required to besexually available to higher caste men, it reportedly is difficult for them to obtainjustice from the legal system if they are raped.National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities.—The country’s caste system has strong historicties to Hinduism. It delineates clear social strata, assigning highly structuredreligious, cultural, and social roles to each caste and subcaste. Members of eachVerDate 11-MAY-2000 13:46 Sep 20, 2001 Jkt 071555 PO 00000 Frm 00097 Fmt 6601 Sfmt 6621 F:\WORK\COUNTRYR\S71555\71555.035 HINTREL1 PsN: HINTREL1