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Orissa curfew after fresh clash | Orissa curfew after fresh clash |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The authorities in the eastern Indian state of Orissa have imposed a curfew in some parts of a troubled district after fresh Hindu-Christian violence. | |
A woman was killed and 12 others hurt on Tuesday when tribespeople clashed with Christians in Kandhamal district. | |
Kandhamal has witnessed weeks of anti-Christian violence. BBC correspondents say the unrest has been caused by ethnic and religious tension. | |
Police say it is not clear what triggered the latest clash. | |
'Unfortunate' | 'Unfortunate' |
A mob of tribespeople armed with guns, bows and arrows and sharp weapons attacked Christian villagers in the village of Rudangia, police said. | |
Christians retaliated by opening fire, they said. | |
A 42-year-old Christian woman died in the clash. | A 42-year-old Christian woman died in the clash. |
Police have imposed a curfew in the district's main town of Phulbani and eight other areas following the incident. | |
Reports of clashes between the two communities have been coming in from other parts of the district as well. | |
Scores of houses have been set alight and damaged, the reports say. | |
Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the fresh violence was "unfortunate" and appealed to people to stay calm. | |
Clashes between Hindus and Christians began in Orissa in August when a Hindu religious leader was shot dead. | |
Hindu groups have long accused Christian priests of bribing poor tribes and low-caste Hindus to convert to Christianity. | Hindu groups have long accused Christian priests of bribing poor tribes and low-caste Hindus to convert to Christianity. |
Christians say lower-caste Hindus convert willingly to escape the Hindu caste system. | Christians say lower-caste Hindus convert willingly to escape the Hindu caste system. |
A large number of Hindu Dalits (formerly known as untouchables) in the district have converted to Christianity over the past few decades. | |
Attacks on Christians have also been reported in the southern states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. | |
Correspondents say that relations are usually peaceful between Christians, who comprise 2.5% of India's 1.1 billion people and Hindus, who account for more than three-quarters of the population. | Correspondents say that relations are usually peaceful between Christians, who comprise 2.5% of India's 1.1 billion people and Hindus, who account for more than three-quarters of the population. |