Urgent prayer called for as another Hindu leader killed in Orissa

This morning VOMC learned that suspected Maoist rebels have killed another  leader of hardline Hindu organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the eastern Indian state of Orissa. According to the BBC, Prabhat Panigrahi (30) was attacked by about 15 people and shot dead in Rudhiguma village in Kandhamal district on Thursday, March 19. Panigrahi was released from jail only last Saturday after having been arrested in connection with the anti-Christian riots that left thousands of Christians homeless, injuring and killing many others. He was one of 14 local leaders who were named on a hit-list released by Maoists for alleged anti-Christian activities during the riots .

As has happened in the past, Hindus are accusing Christians of being involved in a "nexus" with Maoists, collaborating with them in killing their enemies. Some go so far as to even deny that the killers are Maoists but are, instead, paid goons of the Church.

Please pray that this killing does not erupt into yet another round of anti-Christian violence such as what we saw last August after Hindu groups blamed Christians for the killing of Hindu leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.