By Jessy Joseph
Adilabad, April 18, 2024: Police in Telangana have arrested nine people in connection with the attack on a Catholic school in the southern Indian state, the bishop of Adilabad told Matters India April 18.
Meanwhile Church groups across India have condemned a saffron-clad mob on April 16 assaulting a Catholic priest and vandalizing St. Mother Teresa English Medium School in Kannepally, a village in Mancherial district.
The school managed by the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament comes under the Adilabad Syro-Malabar diocese.
Bishop Prince Antony Panengaden of Adilabad said the arrests took place after they contacted the local legislator, chief minister, and police officers. “We have requested them to ensure the safety of the fathers and actions against the perpetrators,” the prelate said.
Soon after the mob attack, the Mancherial district administration deployed paramilitary forces at the school, which is located some 275 km northeast of Hyderabad, the state capital.
The attackers accused the school management of hurting religious sentiments by questioning a few students who had attended class with religious dress instead of the uniform.
The mob shouting “Jai Shree Ram” threw stones at the statue of St Mother Teresa installed at the school’s main gate and destroyed the security office.
They then marched inside the school campus, destroying the gate and entered the school’s first and second floors and broke window glasses, flower pots and the office room.
Bishop Panengaden said the situation has come under control.
“We are doing everything possible. Using aggressive methods may not be wise in such situations,” he said.
The bishop ruled out that only one political party was involved in the attack. “All parties were involved. It was a religiously motivated attack,” he added.
Meanwhile the Telangana Federation of Churches has condemned the incident which it said was a “despicable act.”
A statement from the ecumenical federation says it “condemns with great sorrow and deep concern” over the “atrocious attack” on the school by “unruly mob shouting, ‘Jai Shree Ram’ (Hail Lord Ram.”
It regretted that the mob manhandled a priest and chased out all teaching staff and religious sisters from the school premises and took control of the school.
The April 18 statement said immediately after the attack was known the federation had contacted “all influential figures and other authorities” urging them to condemn “the senseless incident and take appropriate action.”
The federation called on all Christians in the state to remain united and pray for peace and unity “in the hour of distress to the peace-loving community.”
In Kerala, another southern India, the archdiocesan protection council and the laity front of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese condemned the attack in Telangana state.
A statement from the protection committee condemned the mob spreading “blatant lies” against the school to vandalize it and assault its manager Father Jaimon Joseph while the police stood as mute witnesses.
“This is happening in India which is ruled by a political party that promises to protect the country’s secular credentials while let loose its members to attack minority groups,” bemoaned the statement signed by Father Jose Vailikodath, the committee spokesperson.
The committee deplored the “silent support” given to such groups by some bishops.
The laity front expressed apprehension that the Christian phobia seen in northern Indian states is now spreading to the south.
“This is a continuation of widespread violence against Christians in the country,” says the statement signed by front spokesperson Riju Kanjookaren.
The front urged the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India to urgently intervene in the matter.
It warned that the indifference of political parties toward such incidents posed a great danger to India’s democracy and secularism.
Prompt police action as attacks take place should be demanded. If response is late legal recourse should be had in law courts.
It is a matter of great concern to know what is happening to the Christian Community across India . The atrocities against them have crossed all limits. The inaction of the Police and the Govt. Officials speaks volumes of their silent support of such fringe elements. Let us stand united in times of such horror.