New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - The Christian community reacted with preoccupation and fear after the massacre of 24 March in which 24 Indian citizens lost their lives, including women and children, killed in a terrorist attack in the Valley of Kashmir.
The main Christian organisations have written an official communiqué, which expresses solidarity with the local community at this hour of sadness, asking for action "against the perpetrators of these crimes which try to intimidate the population and sabotage the process of peace in the region".
The text is signed by the All India Catholic Union and by the All Indian Christian Council, the Commission "Justice and Peace" of Delhi archdiocese and by a series of other Catholic youth organisations.
"We are saddened and shocked - affirms the document - for the brutal killing of innocents, including children, in this act of war against humanity. The objective to destroy a community in a democratic, pluralist and secular India - in Kashmir, in Gujarat or that of the Dalit in other places - is particularly hateful because it signifies terrorising an entire population and keeping it hostage to pursue political or sectarian ends".
The communiqué notes that in Kashmir the efforts for peace, as soon as they make small steps ahead, are punctually stopped by episodes of violence and blood. For this they ask the international community, the central government of India and the local government to increase efforts to stop and to prevent criminal operations.
The Christians then express full solidarity with the local populations and the refugees who live in uncertainty and continual fear of terrorism. PA (Fides Service 28/3/2003 EM lines 25 Words: 283)