New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has strongly condemned the mob attack on two Catholic priests and a catechist in Jaleswar, Odisha, on 6 August, describing it as part of a disturbing pattern of violence against Christian minorities in the country.
According to reports, the incident occurred when Fr. Lijo, Parish Priest of St. Thomas’ Church, Jaleswar, accompanied by another priest, two nuns, and a catechist, was returning to the parish after celebrating a requiem Mass in a nearby village. While the nuns were rescued by local women, the priests and catechist were stopped, abused, manhandled, and accused of religious conversion.
Fr. Lijo’s mobile phone was allegedly seized and not returned, while the catechist, identified as Mr. Durjyodhan, was brutally beaten and had his motorcycle damaged. The mob, estimated at around 70 people, reportedly included many outsiders.
The CBCI termed the attack a blatant violation of constitutional rights and human dignity, warning that the rising trend of mob violence poses a serious threat to peaceful coexistence. The conference urged the Odisha government to take swift action to identify and prosecute the perpetrators and to ensure the safety of minority communities.
Reaffirming its commitment to defend the rights and safety of all citizens, especially the Christian community, the CBCI stated that it will continue to monitor the situation closely.