Opposition to raise attack on nuns and priests in Parliament

NEW DELHI: There are widespread protests in Odisha over the attack on nuns and priests by Bajrang Dal on charges of forced conversion after the Chhattisgarh incident. Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) spokesperson Robinson Rodriguez said that this was not an isolated incident and that we cannot remain silent anymore. It is a cause of worry and the attack is part of intolerance. He told a private channel that a decision will be taken after consulting the archdiocese on filing a case. The opposition is seeking a discussion in Parliament today against the attack.

The nuns and priests were attacked on Wednesday night at Gangadhar village in Jaleswar. Jaleswar parish priest Father Lijo Nirappel, Father V Jojo of Joda parish, two nuns and a Christian religious scholar were attacked by a 70-member gang. They had come to offer prayers for the death anniversary of a member of the Christian community in the area. When they were about to return at 9 pm, they were surrounded by a Bajrang Dal group and brutally beaten up. The victims of the attack also said that they snatched their mobile phones.

The attackers did not withdraw even after said that they had come for prayers. Father Lijo Nirappel said that it was a planned attack. They were detained for about 45 minutes. The police rescued them by saying that they were being taken to the station for investigation.

Meantime, they alleged that the police were not ready to register an FIR despite a complaint being filed in the incident. The Catholic Bishops' Conference condemned the incident.