By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) - Police in India’s eastern state of Odisha denied Wednesday that a Christian teenager was killed for his faith in Christ.
The Odisha Police Chief in the South Western Range area of the Koraput municipality reportedly said Samaru Madkami, 14, was not killed because he converted to Christianity.
The June 4 killing in the village of Kenduguda in Odisha’s Malkangiri District came ahead of the 12th anniversary of more than 90 Christians by Hindu militants in the state.
Police said those involved in the murders suspected that Ugna Madkami, the victim’s father, was a sorcerer who had killed 16 villagers.
As revenge, those accused reportedly sought to kill him, but the attack ended in the death of Samaru Madkami. Six men were detained over the murder and are currently in prison, awaiting a hearing date from the court, Christians following the case said.
PETITION FILED
Wednesday’s remarks followed a petition filed by Bishop P.R. Parichha, president of the Odisha Chapter of the All India Christian Council, an umbrella group of churches.
The bishop had reportedly requested a police inquiry into the death of Madkami.
In published comments, Bishop P.R. Parichha said he was “disappointed” with the police’s “opinion that the death of the minor was a result of vengeance for sorcery.”
“The Madkami family do not practice such things. His father is a pastor,” he added in a statement distributed by the Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) group.
“Why weren’t the cases of the 16 people who died ever reported to the police or the matter investigated sooner?” he added.
MANY GAPS
“What proof is there? There are so many gaps in the claim by the accused persons. It is unfounded, biased, and misleading,” the bishop said.
“The police should not deviate from the root cause of the murder of Samaru. We demand justice for Samaru and his father, who lost his son because of his faith.”
He also stressed that even “the Deputy Inspector General of Police has acknowledged in his response letter that Samaru was brutally murdered.”
CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas told Worthy News that the murder has dealt a “shocking blow” to the Christian minority. “Intolerance and prejudice against Christians in the area is well noted. It is imperative that the law enforcement agencies consider all the circumstances leading up to his brutal murder and commit to a thorough, impartial investigation,” he stressed.
“Justice in his case is imperative for Christians in the village to feel assured that their interests are protected.”