Church trashed as religious riots spread in Orissa

By Jatindra Dash

BHUBANESWAR, India (Reuters) - Hindu mobs ransacked a church and clashed with Christian villagers in Orissa on Thursday, police said, as Italy said it would summon India's ambassador to demand "incisive action" to prevent more attacks.

Authorities have struggled to control spiralling religious violence in the state.

Hindu mobs have destroyed more than a dozen churches and attacked Christians this week after the murder of a Hindu leader in Kandhamal, a tribal area where Christian missionaries have been active for years.

Shoot-on-sight orders have failed to end clashes that have killed at least 11 people, mainly in Kandhamal district.

Police deployed more than 3,000 personnel in the streets on Thursday but they could not stop the ransacking of at least one church. Local media said as many as four churches were attacked.

"Police are marching in several areas now," Orissa police chief Gopal Chandra Nanda told Reuters.

Television pictures showed mobs armed with rods putting up road blocks on Thursday and others attacking churches.

Other mobs armed with bows and arrows and axes have attacked Christian homes, dragging out women and children. Hundreds have fled to forests and nearby hills, officials said.