INDIA: CLEMENCY SOUGHT FOR 11

the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) sought clemency for 11 people given the death penalty by the special sessions court, which heard cases regarding the serial church blasts across Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh in 2000. GCIC welcomed the judgment and said "We will approach the President of India and governor with clemency petition for the 11 awarded death penalty.'' "We appeal to the Union of states of India, especially the Orissa government to dispense justice for the Christians martyred for their faith and suffered loss of properties and Churches,'' the release added.