Rally, closure of Christian Schools, colleges to protest Orissa viol

New Delhi, Aug 29 (UNI) Thousands of Christians held a rally in the National Capital while the church-run schools and colleges remained closed today to protest the violence and riots in Orissa which left several people from the community dead and many others displaced.

To protest the collapse of the governance and rule of law in Orissa, about 10,000 Christians rallied in New Delhi this morning.

Joined by Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus, the protestors tried to march to Orissa Bhawan but police clambed a localised curfew to stop the rally. The attendees were forced to regroup at the Teen Murti traffic circles.

Meanwhile, the Christian educational institutions, including the St Stephens college remained closed today in response to the nationwide strike called by the All India Christian Council.

In the aftermath of the murder of a Hindu swami by unknown assailants on August 23, mobs attacked the Christian community across Orissa. According to the All India Christian Council, thousands of Christian properties were burnt and several nuns sexually assaulted and pastors killed in their homes.

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