New Delhi: The nation is witnessing a surge of anger and protests following the brazen mob attack on two Catholic priests and two nuns in Odisha’s Jaleswar region, allegedly carried out by nearly 70 Bajrang Dal activists. The shocking incident, which took place on August 6, has triggered widespread condemnation and drawn the attention of political leaders, religious communities, and civil society organisations. As tensions continue to mount, opposition parties have announced their intention to raise the issue in Parliament today, demanding a serious and time-bound debate on what they term as an alarming rise in attacks against religious minorities, particularly Christians, across India.
The victims of the attack all Keralites had travelled to Gangadhar village under Jaleswar parish in the Balasore Diocese to conduct a requiem Mass commemorating the second death anniversary of two local Catholic faithful. As per eyewitness accounts and the victims’ own testimonies, the prayer service was peaceful and attended by villagers who had invited the priests and nuns for the occasion. However, as they were returning around 9 p.m., their journey was violently interrupted.
According to reports, a group of approximately 70 Bajrang Dal activists had strategically positioned themselves on a forested stretch of road near the village, lying in wait for the clergy. The mob first targeted the catechist who was travelling on a motorcycle, beating him mercilessly, dismantling his vehicle, and throwing it aside. The priests’ car was then stopped, and both priests and nuns were forcibly dragged out, subjected to beatings, communal abuse, and false accusations of religious conversion.
In a particularly concerning detail, the attackers snatched the mobile phone of one of the priests, and villagers who came to the aid of the clergy were also reportedly attacked. The entire incident was allegedly captured on video, footage of which has since surfaced on social media platforms, sparking further outrage and calls for justice.
The Opposition parties, led by prominent leaders from the Congress, CPI(M), DMK, TMC, and other secular parties, are now preparing to launch a coordinated protest within both houses of Parliament. They have announced that they will demand an urgent discussion on the increasing atmosphere of religious intolerance and the growing frequency of attacks against Christians under the guise of "anti-conversion" drives by right-wing groups. According to the Opposition, such incidents are no longer sporadic but reflect a disturbing pattern of organized vigilantism that is thriving under state apathy or political encouragement.
"This attack is not an isolated act of aggression," said one senior Opposition MP. "It represents a systemic collapse of law and order when it comes to the protection of minorities. The message being sent across the country is that Christians are second-class citizens, constantly under suspicion, and easily disposable in the eyes of hate-driven mobs."
What is also deeply troubling is the reported inaction of local police authorities. Despite the gravity of the attack and the availability of video evidence, no First Information Report (FIR) had been registered at the time of this report, and no arrests have been made. The victims themselves were allegedly rescued from the site by police not for investigation, but for their own protection from the mob, further highlighting the impunity with which such groups operate.
Human rights activists and Christian leaders have also expressed deep concern over the political silence from the ruling establishment. No official condemnation has come from either the state government or the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, despite the national uproar. Religious leaders have called for immediate intervention by the National Human Rights Commission and the National Commission for Minorities to ensure justice for the victims and accountability for the perpetrators.
Protests have begun to surface across various cities in India, particularly in Kerala, Delhi, Mumbai, and parts of Eastern India, with placards reading "Stop Persecuting Christians", "Faith Is Not a Crime", and "Silence is Complicity". Civil society groups have also joined the call, urging citizens across religious lines to speak out against the normalization of mob violence and the weaponization of identity for political gain.
In the coming days, all eyes will be on the Parliament and the response of the central government. Will the cries for justice be heard, or will they be drowned in procedural indifference and partisan politics?
What is at stake now is not just the safety of four religious workers in Odisha but the moral spine of the Indian Republic itself. When mobs override the Constitution, and priests must fear for their lives, we must ask ourselves: are we still a secular democracy or a nation sleepwalking into religious authoritarianism?