Radicals Attack Catholic Priests and Nuns in India

On August 6, in the Jaleswar district of Odisha state, India, a group of around 70 radicals attacked Christian priests, nuns, and missionaries conducting a memorial service in the village of Gangadhar. Two clerics from the Balasore Diocese and several assistants were injured. The attackers, affiliated with the Bajrang Dal organization, shouted that Christians were “not needed” in Odisha. The report comes from the web portal of The Times of India.

According to eyewitnesses, the attack occurred after the service ended, as the clergy were returning along the road. The radicals surrounded the group and brutally beat the priests and nuns. Police who arrived at the scene did not detain the attackers or file a criminal case, sparking outrage among church representatives.

The Syro-Malabar Church emphasized that such incidents occur across various regions of India due to the impunity of the attackers. In several states, laws exist against missionary activities, which radicals exploit to persecute the Christian minority.

The head of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, Mar Andrews Thazhath, called on authorities to guarantee the freedom of religion enshrined in the Constitution and to stop attacks on religious minorities. Church representatives appealed to the Prime Minister to hold the attackers accountable.

Earlier reports noted that, according to a study by the African Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS), Islamist militants killed 22,307 people across the continent over the past year. Most of the victims were Christians, targeted in attacks in West, East, and Central Africa. Radical groups deliberately attack churches, Christian communities, and settlements where believers live.