Nuns and priests attacked again;  70 Bajrang Dal members allegedly involved

NEW DELHI: Even before the outrage over the arrest and jailing of nuns in Chhattisgarh could settle, another incident of violence against nuns and priests has been reported- this time from Jaleswar in Odisha. According to reports, a group of Bajrang Dal members allegedly attacked a group of nuns and two priests, accusing them of attempting religious conversions. The priests stated that around 70 people were involved in the attack.

One of the priest’s mobile phones was taken by the attackers. Locals who were present at the spot were also reportedly assaulted. Video footage of the incident has surfaced.

The nuns and priests, including some from Kerala, had gone to a village in Jaleswar to attend a prayer service. The Bajrang Dal members arrived at the location and allegedly blocked their vehicle before attacking them. It is claimed that they created an atmosphere of fear and tension for nearly 45 minutes. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) has strongly condemned the incident.