Church condemns attack on priests, nuns in Odisha
The response followed an alleged attack on priests and nuns in Balasore diocese in Odisha.
Syro-Malabar Church media commission said the latest attack at 5pm on Aug 6 in Gangadhar village of Jaleswar district, Odisha, was carried out alleging religious conversion. Fr Lijo Nirappel and Fr V Jojo from Balasore diocese were injured. The two priests, along with two nuns and a few mission workers, reached the church under Gangadhar Mission to offer a mass for the deceased, the Church added.
After the service, about 70 Bajrang Dal activists blocked their way and brutally assaulted the priests and their assistant, the Church said. "Witnesses said the attackers shouted: 'Remember, Odisha is ruled by BJP. Christians are not needed here and you will not be allowed to operate here.' Although police arrived at the scene, they were unwilling to file a case, showing how sectarian forces control the legal system," said an official statement.
It added the reluctance to act against lawlessness in Chhattisgarh emboldened Sangh organisations to continue their attacks on Christian minority.
Meanwhile, CBCI president Mar Andrews Thazhath said Indian Constitution guaranteed right to freely profess, practice and propagate religion but ordinary people are being attacked for no reason in the name of religious conversion and the anti-conversion bill. "It is happening in different ways in different states.
So, I urge the concerned authorities, state or Centre, to act against such unconstitutional attacks on freedom of religion and rights of minorities," he said.
Fr Philip Kaviyil, global director of Catholic Congress, wrote a letter to Prime Minister demanding action against the attack on nuns, priests and laymen in Odisha by Bajrang Dal members. He said it was both heartbreaking and alarming that such hate-fuelled acts were carried out even in broad daylight, often with impunity.
In a sarcastic Facebook post, metropolitan of Thrissur diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Yuhanon Mor Meletius, said "The actor whom we had sent to Delhi from Thrissur Parliament seat is missing. We are concerned whether we should inform police."
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