India: 'A group of Christians have returned to their village in Orissa, India, six months after Hindu villagers shaved their heads bare. The Christians and their families lived for six months in sheltered housing provided by a church in the state capital but returned home on August 8 under heavy police guard. However, fellow villagers did not welcome their return; the Christians were initially barred from using the public well and are still barred from local employment. Pastor Subas Samal and six others were also charged with “forced conversion” under Orissa’s anti-conversion law. The accused say they hope to settle the case out of court. Elsewhere in Orissa, church leaders have sharply criticized police for their recent failure to protect a Catholic church. An armed Hindu mob stormed a parish church in Raikia on August 27 while the police “remained spectators for hours to the whole attack.”' (Compass Direct)