Thiruvananthapuram: In a strongly worded statement issued today, the KCBC Vigilance Commission condemned the violent assault on two Malayali Catholic priests—including a 90-year-old—at a boys' hostel in Charvati, Sambalpur district, Odisha. The commission called on both the Central and State Governments to take immediate and stringent action, describing the attack as not only inhumane but also indicative of a deeper communal agenda.

The incident occurred in the early hours of May 23, when a group of assailants stormed the residence of the priests, bound them for several hours, subjected them to severe physical abuse, and looted valuables. The attackers allegedly selected a day when the hostel’s students were away, suggesting deliberate planning. Before fleeing, they threatened the priests with further violence if they did not vacate the area.

The KCBC Vigilance Commission expressed deep concern over the alleged leniency shown by authorities toward the perpetrators. Despite mounting public outrage, government agencies have reportedly failed to take decisive and unbiased legal action, raising serious concerns over the protection of constitutional and human rights of minority communities.

For decades, Catholic missionaries—priests, monks, and religious congregations—have worked in Odisha’s remote areas, providing vital education and healthcare services irrespective of caste or religion. With over 1.2 million Christians in the state, most of them economically disadvantaged, the recurrence of such violent incidents is alarming, particularly in light of their substantial contributions to the state’s social development.

As incidents of communal violence and anti-Christian sentiment rise, the KCBC called for urgent intervention by the Union Government. It urged the Odisha state authorities to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice swiftly and that comprehensive safeguards are established to prevent future attacks on Christian missionaries and institutions.