The Syro-Malabar Church has strongly condemned the recent attack on Christian pilgrims and clergy in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. The incident, which has sparked outrage among religious communities, saw a group of around 50 individuals, allegedly linked to the Bajrang Dal, violently targeting a gathering of Christian devotees.
According to reports, the attack took place while the pilgrims were engaged in religious activities. Witnesses claimed that the assailants disrupted the gathering, resorting to verbal abuse before escalating to physical violence. Several members of the congregation sustained injuries as the mob unleashed their aggression.
Senior church leaders, including Jabalpur Vicar General Fr. Davis and Diocesan Procurator Fr. George T., rushed to the scene to intervene. However, instead of restoring peace, they too became victims of the brutal assault. Fr. Davis and Fr. George were reportedly manhandled and physically assaulted, highlighting the increasing vulnerability of religious leaders in such targeted attacks.
The Syro-Malabar Church has expressed deep concern over the growing intolerance against religious minorities and emphasized that such incidents violate India's constitutional right to religious freedom. Church authorities have urged the Madhya Pradesh state government and law enforcement agencies to take immediate and strict action against those responsible for the attack.
Christian organizations and human rights groups have also condemned the violence, calling for urgent measures to ensure the safety and security of religious minorities in the region. The Church has reiterated its demand for justice and stressed that such acts of aggression must not go unpunished.
The attack in Jabalpur is part of a troubling trend of increasing hostility toward Christian communities in parts of northern India. Religious leaders have called for unity and peaceful coexistence, urging authorities to uphold the nation’s commitment to secularism and protect citizens from religiously motivated violence.