Kerala Latin Catholic Association announces protest meetings to condemn attacks on Christians in India
Kochi: The Kerala Latin Catholic Association (KLCA) announced statewide protest meetings on June 8 to condemn atrocities against Christians across India.
Leaders of the association on Sunday met with 90-year-old Fr Leenus Puthanveetil who was attacked in Odisha.
He is currently under treatment at a hospital in Manjummal. The association also released a video of the priest describing the atrocities he faced.
The priest said that he was attacked by assailants at night while he was sleeping. The attackers put a knife to his neck before slapping him and tying him up. He added that his fellow priest was brutally beaten up by the attackers in front of him.
In a statement, Joseph Jude, spokesperson for the Latin Catholic community, said that the attack faced by priests in Sambalpur was condemnable. He mentioned that the priests were working amongst the poor in Odisha and the attackers even targeted an elderly priest like Fr Leenus.
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Time of India
a day ago
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KCBC condemns brutal assault on priests in Odisha
Kochi: The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) condemned the incident where two Malayali priests, including a 90-year-old elderly priest, were brutally assaulted at a boys' hostel in Charwatiya, Sambalpur district, Odisha. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now KCBC stated that the those who targeted the priests on a day when the students were on vacation, carried out the assault as part of a religious extremist agenda to intimidate and expel them. Early on May 23, the attackers broke into the priests' residence, tied them up, brutally beat them for hours and committed robbery. They also threatened to return if the priests did not vacate the place, KCBC reported. KCBC stated that the authorities were taking a stance that protects the criminals. Despite widespread protests, the govt systems have adopted an approach that supports anti-Christian moves, without engaging in impartial legal actions, which is a blatant violation of constitutional and human rights. The repeated hostile actions against Christians, who have made significant contributions to the cultural and educational progress of the state, is a serious issue. Effective intervention by the central govt is urgently needed. The Odisha govt should ensure exemplary punishment for the attackers who brutally assaulted the priests and take preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future, KCBC urged. Fr Leenus Puthanveetil, who was attacked and is under treatment at a hospital in Manjummal, said the attackers put a knife against his neck before slapping him and tying him up. His fellow priest was brutally beaten by the attackers in front of him, he said in a video message.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Kerala Latin Catholic Association announces protest meetings to condemn attacks on Christians in India
Kochi: The Kerala Latin Catholic Association (KLCA) announced statewide protest meetings on June 8 to condemn atrocities against Christians across India. Leaders of the association on Sunday met with 90-year-old Fr Leenus Puthanveetil who was attacked in Odisha. He is currently under treatment at a hospital in Manjummal. The association also released a video of the priest describing the atrocities he faced. The priest said that he was attacked by assailants at night while he was sleeping. The attackers put a knife to his neck before slapping him and tying him up. He added that his fellow priest was brutally beaten up by the attackers in front of him. In a statement, Joseph Jude, spokesperson for the Latin Catholic community, said that the attack faced by priests in Sambalpur was condemnable. He mentioned that the priests were working amongst the poor in Odisha and the attackers even targeted an elderly priest like Fr Leenus.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Cong will defend Christians against attacks: Satheesan
Kochi: Christian priests in Odisha were attacked by the same people who visit homes in Kerala with cakes during Christmas and Easter. The Congress will put up a defence in places where Christians are being attacked on a regular basis, opposition leader V D Satheesan told reporters in Kochi on Sunday after visiting the priests who were attacked in Odisha. He said shocking details about the attack in Odisha were revealed by the Catholic priests from Kerala. A large group broke open doors, brutally assaulted the priest, looted belongings, and even viciously attacked a 90-year-old priest, Satheesan said. "Fr Leenus was tied up and beaten before being locked in a room. Fr Silvi was also beaten after being tied up. After an hour and a half, the priests tried to untie themselves and open the door but in vain. It was a nearby temple priest who heard the noise and rescued them," Satheesan said. This is not an isolated incident. Widespread attacks are occurring in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Ahmedabad, and Chhattisgarh, he added. The govt has reportedly instructed looters to target all Christian institutions within two months, Satheesan said. Police have taken a stance that nothing can be done even if complaints are filed. "Priests are being attacked by Bajrang Dal activists and organizations connected to Sangh Parivar. Nationwide attacks against Christians are increasing. The bishop of Jabalpur stated that attacks are happening every day. Even nuns on tourist visits are being attacked under the pretext of religious conversion," Satheesan said. Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, Ernakulam MLA T J Vinod and DCC president Muhammed Shiyas accompanied Satheesan while visiting the priests at a private hospital in Kochi.
