Indian bishops condemn mob attack on Catholic priests and catechists in Odisha

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) expressed its deep anguish and strongly condemned the shocking mob attack on two Catholic priests and a catechist in Jaleswar in the Balasore diocese, in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, on August 6, 2025.

“This incident is not an isolated case but part of a disturbing pattern of violence against Christian minorities, reflecting a growing climate of intolerance in the country,” said Fr. Robinson Rodrigues, PRO, CBCI, in a press note.

According to reports, the attack took place when Fr. Lijo Nirappel, Parish Priest of St. Thomas’ Church, Jaleswar, accompanied by another priest, Father V. Jojo of neighboring Joda parish, two nuns belonging to the Sisters of the Visitation, and a catechist, was returning to the parish after celebrating a requiem Mass for the second death anniversary of two local Catholic men at the Gangadhar mission station of Jaleswar parish.

While the nuns were rescued by local village women, the priests and the catechist were stopped, abused, manhandled, and falsely accused of religious conversion.

Fr. Lijo’s mobile phone was forcibly taken and never returned. The catechist, Mr. Durjyodhan was brutally beaten, and his motorcycle was damaged. Many in the mob of around 70 people were outsiders.

Such actions are a blatant violation of the constitutional rights and human dignity of minorities. The rising trend of mob violence poses a grave threat to the safety, security, and peaceful coexistence of all communities, said the press note.

The CBCI called upon the Government of Odisha to take swift and decisive action to identify and prosecute the perpetrators and to ensure the protection of all minority communities.

“We further urge the authorities to safeguard the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution so that every citizen may live and practice their faith without fear,” Fr. Rodrigues said.

“The CBCI will continue to monitor the situation closely and will stand firm in its commitment to defend the rights, dignity, and safety of all citizens, especially the Christian community,” he added.

Attacks on priests, nuns, and Christians in Odisha have a long history. The issue is widespread throughout India.

In 2008, the Kandhamal district under the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar archdiocese in Odisha witnessed severe persecution that claimed more than 100 Christians and displaced more than 65,000 people, besides damaging hundreds of houses and property.

After the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed a government in Odisha in 2024, attacks on Christians have increased ever since.

Odisha witnessed 40 incidents of attacks against Christians in 2024, says the United Christian Forum (UCF), a New Delhi-based ecumenical body that tracks cases of persecution against Christians in the country. 

Christians constitute 2.77 percent of the state’s 42 million people, over 90 percent of whom are Hindus and indigenous people.