¹⁹ Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19 NASV)

Journalist Anto Akkara produced a documentary on the breakout of violence against the Christian communities living in the state of Odisha located on the eastern side of India in 2007 and 2008.

The violence led by Hindu extremists resulted in the deaths of 100 Christians, the rape of over 40 women, and the burning of nearly 400 churches and 6,500 Christian homes.

In an interview with Christianity Today, Akkara revealed the strange things that happened to ten men responsible for much of the violence, leaving Akkara wondering if God’s divine judgement was at work:

Starting in 2008, Akkara has made 34 trips to the rural Kandhamal region, where he has filmed four documentaries focused on how this violence has impacted the victims’ lives. For his latest release, The Right Hand of God over Kandhamal, Akkara uncovers the fates of 10 assailants who attacked the Christian community and concludes there has been some sort of “divine retribution” at work. Eight have died, including two by suicide, one in a car crash, and one from paralysis. Another lost his ability to speak. Beyond those whose stories he investigates, there are even more that he says regret their actions and have “embraced the faith they once tried to banish from Kandhamal.” […]

In Christmas 2009, the government convened a peace meeting between Christians and Hindu extremists and activists. During the meeting, Bamdev Kanhar, an activist who had vandalized a church in 2007, stood up and said, “We should not attack Christians. We must live peacefully; otherwise God will punish us.”

READ: They Persecuted Indian Christians. Most Confessed. Did Divine Retribution Follow?