Bhubaneswar: Sr Meena Barwa, who was gang raped eight years ago in Kandhamal district of Odisha says her heart still bleeds of Kandhamal and its people.
“Since yesterday, my mind is on the anti-Christian persecution of 2008. Unlike other years, this year I feel so much when recalling those violent incidents,” she told Matters India on August 25, the Kandhamal Martyrs Day.
The Handmaid Mary nun could not attend the programs in Bhubaneswar because of security reasons.
“The gory, agony and anguish of people and that of mine are still fresh in my heart and mind. They will never fade away from me,” she said.
She, however, clarified the feelings come not out of anger, disgust or regret. “I have taken them in my life and overcame those with grace of God. With grateful heart to God I am feeling for Kandhamal and I have coped up all those unfortunate events.”
She said continues to feel for Kandhamal wherever she is.
She also said that she has been praying intensely for the past eight years for those innocents Christians who died and suffered on account of the anti-Christian violence.
“My deepest desire and aspiration is that there should not be another Kandhamal violence of 2008 in the history of the district and the state or elsewhere,” Sr Meena added.
All these persecutions have to been seen in the light of faith, justice and mercy. “I have forgiven my abusers but I, like others, should demand for justice,” Sr Meena reiterated.
Her legal cases are on trial in the High Court at Cuttack, Odisha, eastern India.