Catholic Bishops’ Conference condemns mob attack on priests in Odisha
'Disturbing pattern of violence against Christians', says CBCI
New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has expressed deep anguish and strongly condemned a violent attack by a Hindutva mob on two Catholic priests and a catechist in Jaleswar, Odisha.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the CBCI in a statement said that the latest incident is not an isolated case but part of a disturbing pattern of violence against Christian minorities, reflecting a growing climate of intolerance in India.
The CBCI said that the attack occurred when Father Lijo, Parish Priest of St. Thomas’ Church, Jaleswar, along with another priest, two nuns, and a catechist, were returning from a requiem Mass at a Catholic home in a nearby village. While local women rescued the nuns, the priests and catechist were stopped by a mob of around 70 people, many outsiders. They were verbally abused, physically manhandled, and falsely accused of religious conversion.
Fr. Lijo’s mobile phone was forcibly taken and never returned, and the catechist, Mr. Durjyodhan, was severely beaten with his motorcycle also damaged the statement added.
The South First newspaper posted on X about the incident, stating that the attackers included members of the Bajrang Dal, and highlighted the victims’ distress over the lack of immediate police action and the failure to register a formal FIR or recover stolen property. “The victims of the attack, particularly Fr. Lijo and Fr. Jojo, were left shaken and disheartened by the experience”, the post added.
The CBCI condemned the attack as a blatant violation of constitutional rights and human dignity of minorities, warning that the rising trend of mob violence poses grave threat to the safety, security and peaceful coexistence of all communities.
The Conference urged the Odisha government to take swift action to identify and prosecute the perpetrators and to ensure the protection of all minority communities. It also called on authorities to safeguard fundamental rights guaranteed under the Consittution so that every citizen may live and practice their faith without fear.
