ODISHA (Fides/RVA News): The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India [CBCI] expressed its deep anguish and strongly condemned the shocking mob attack on two Catholic priests and a catechist in Jaleswar in the Balasore diocese, in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, on August 6, RVA News reported.
“This incident is not an isolated case but part of a disturbing pattern of violence against Christian minorities, reflecting a growing climate of intolerance in the country,” said Father Robinson Rodrigues, public relations officer of the bishops’ conference in a press release.
According to reports, the attack took place when Father Lijo Nirappel, parish priest of St. Thomas’ Church, Jaleswar, accompanied by another priest, Father V. Jojo of neighbouring Joda parish, two nuns belonging to the Sisters of the Visitation, and a catechist, was returning to the parish after celebrating a memorial Mass for the second death anniversary of two local Catholics at the Gangadhar mission station of Jaleswar parish.
Some 70 members of the Bajrang Dal, a youth wing of Vishva Hindu Parishad, a militant Hindu organisation, ambushed and attacked the group, accusing them of making religious conversions. RVA News reported that many of the mob were not from the area.
“First, they attacked our catechist, who was riding a motorcycle. They brutally beat him, dismantled the motorcycle, emptied the fuel tank, and threw him away,” Fides reported Father Nirappel as saying.
“They physically attacked us, pushing us, assaulting us, and brutally beating us. They punched us, stole our phones, and kept shouting that we wanted to turn them into Americans, converting them by force,” the priest continued.
First, they attacked our catechist, who was riding a motorcycle. They brutally beat him, dismantled the motorcycle, emptied the fuel tank, and threw him away
Father Nirappel
Two nuns were taken back to the village by the village women amid the attack and are reported to be safe, a source told UCAN.
The police arrived on the scene after 45 minutes, however, even in the presence of the police, the crowd continued their insults.
“I never imagined something like this could happen in the Jaleswar area. We were simply performing a service and were attacked and humiliated with baseless accusations. The media is also complicit. They don’t verify the facts. This false narrative must be corrected by the truth,” Father Nirappel said.
Father Dibakar Parichha, an official from Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, said the latest attack “is a matter of concern as the state, as well as Balasore diocese, has become a laboratory for fundamentalists.”
He said, “Church officials of Balasore diocese are planning to file a police complaint.”
Father Rodrigues said, “We further urge the authorities to safeguard the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution so that every citizen may live and practice their faith without fear.”
He added, “The CBCI will continue to monitor the situation closely and will stand firm in its commitment to defend the rights, dignity, and safety of all citizens, especially the Christian community.”
