Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo submits a memorandum to Governor Syed Sibtey Razi protesting the attack on Christians in Orissa. Telegraph picture

Ranchi, Aug. 27: All Christian schools in the state run by the Catholic Church, Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church (GEL), Church of North India, Assembly of God Church and other Protestant churches today agreed to remain closed on August 29 in protest against the attack on Christian missionaries and churches in Orissa by what they alleged as “anti-Christian and anti-social forces”.

The decision to close the schools for a day came soon after all the Christian churches joined hands today to submit a joint memorandum to Governor Syed Sibtey Razi condemning the Orissa attacks with a prayer that “the matter be taken up with the Orissa government so that the rights of the minorities are protected”.

The all-church delegation, which met the governor, was led by Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo and included among others Jamshedpur bishop Felix Toppo, C.D. Jojo, the bishop GEL Church; P.D. Sunil Tirkey, the bishop NWGEL Church; John Toppo of Assembly of God Church, Cyril Lakra of the Church of North India and C.R. Prabhu, the vice-president of the All Churches Committee.

“The widespread violence in Orissa calls for an immediate and effective intervention by the state in order to restore law and order. We demand that hunting down of priests, sisters and other church personnel be stopped immediately,” the memorandum said.

The memorandum further demanded payment of adequate compensation for the loss of life and property in Orissa and emphasised the need to hold a “high-level inquiry and publication of the report at an early date so that the real culprits are booked under the law”.

Later, Cardinal Toppo said that according to a broad understanding thrashed out between all the various churches, all Christian schools, colleges and other educational institutions would remain closed on August 29.

In Orissa, 41 churches have so far been destroyed at the ongoing riots in the district, said a factsheet presented by the Christian leaders in Orissa. Besides, 17 houses, five hostels and four convents in Sankarkhole, Pobinga, Baliguda and Padangi were apparently destroyed, the report said. Seven institutions, including XIMB and National Institute of Social Work & Social Sciences, were also attacked by the goons, it added.

Bibhudutta Das of the Utkal Christian Council said that the current number and distribution of security forces were not enough to deal with the problem.

“Christians abhor violence and love peace and we want justice,” said P.S. Nag of Cuttack Diocese Bishops Commissary reiterating the demand for a CBI probe into the incident.