Life is the precious Gift from God.  The covenant between God and humanity is interwoven with reminders of God’s gift of human life and man’s murderous violence. The gift of life which God the Creator and Father has entrusted to man calls him to appreciate the inestimable value of what he has been given and to take responsibility for it. The growing loss of appreciation of inestimable value of life and failure of accommodating one another has led to the ghastly act of terrorism in the name of “fighting for religion,” said the Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, the General Secretary of the Church of North India, reacting to the coordinated terrorist attack struck in Mumbai, the commercial Capital of India in the wee hours of 27th November 2008 as terrorists used heavy machine guns, including AK-47s, and grenades to shootout at the city's most high-profile targets: the hyper-busy Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus; the landmark Taj Hotel at the Gateway and the luxury Oberoi Trident at Nariman Point; the domestic airport at Santa Cruz; the Cama and GT hospitals near CST; the Metro Adlabs multiplex and Mazgaon Dockyard — killing at least 115 and injuring hundreds of innocent people. 

The Church of North India strongly condemns the shootouts and appeals to the churches and religious communities to pray for peace and reconciliation.  The CNI also appeals to the civil society to start a drive against fanaticism that is mutilating the secular fabric of India. We express solidarity with those killed and taken hostage by the terrorists, particularly our friends from other countries. It is a national shame that tourists from other countries who being fascinated by the rich heritage and cultures of India visit our beautiful and diversified country have been targeted.  We demand that stringent laws to curb terrorism be put in place to ensure security of common people.

As always in solidarity,

Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan
General Secretary
Church of North India
December 1, 2008