Two priests attacked in a robbery at a parish in Odisha, India

MUMBAI, India – A group of 15 people attacked a Catholic parish in Odisha, India, on June 15, injuring two priests.

The incident took place in Jhorabahal parish in Rourkela town. The men injured Father Nerial Bilung and Father Alois Xalxo – the parish priest and assistant parish priest – and stole all the money of the parish.

The attack took place in the early hours of the morning. The Rourkela diocese said in a statement that the priests had no chance to escape or inform anyone when the other men entered the parish.

The statement said the attackers brutally attacked the priests, beating them with iron bars, crowbars and hockey sticks “and other deadly weapons.” The priests were then handcuffed and their mouths taped shut.

“They threatened them not to make noise or shout or they would be killed,” the statement said.

“They searched the house for nearly an hour and threw away all belongings. Father Nerial Bilung fell unconscious and was bleeding heavily,” it said.

“Father Alois managed to free his hands and help Father Nerial. They could not leave the room at night as they were afraid and remained in the room until morning. At around 4:30 am they informed other people on campus,” the statement continued.

In a message to coreVicar General Father Bernard Lakra said: “The condition of the two priests is stable and they have been shifted from a government hospital to Nuagaon Mission Hospital in Rourkela.”

Odisha, formerly Orissa, has a long history of anti-Christian violence and was the scene of a notorious attack on the impoverished Christian minority in August 2008.

The vast majority of Odisha’s population is Hindu – over 93 percent. The proportion of Catholics is only 2.7 percent. In Rourkela, however, the proportion of Christians is over 7 percent.

Police are investigating the incident. Although the attack took place shortly after the end of India’s general elections, officials denied that there was a religious motive behind the attacks.

“There is no communal angle. It is a case of (violent robbery). We will solve the case soon,” said Deputy Superintendent Nirmal Kumar Mahapatra.

Some of the stolen money was donated to the two schools on the community property. The robbers also stole musical instruments and even copies of bills and other financial documents.

“The perpetrators were all wearing face masks, gloves and heavy shoes and were speaking in Bihari Sadri,” Bilung told reporters.

Bihari Sadri is an Indo-Aryan language widely spoken in Odisha.