By virtue of being a fluent speaker of Oriya and Hindi, Ilyas becomes the voice of these refugees. It is he who acts as an interlocutor and helps vent their feelings and opinions.

Today, Ilyas trembles with fear when Debabbrata Jena, the block development officer, Raikia, asks him to go back to his village. He has been living in a relief camp in Raikia with 200 other Christians, a large number of whom were shifted by the district administration just a day before from Nuagam.

Ilyas fears Hindus in his village will kill him if he returns home.

Both Raikia and Nuagam lie within a 50 km radius of Phulbani.

Emboldened by Ilyas, Yadav Dighal, another Scheduled Caste Christian who speaks unclear Hindi, pours his heart out.

Image: Ilyas Dighal, centre, with other refugees.

Also see: 'No party wants to displease the Hindus | India Votes 2009

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