Indian Catholic Priest Attacked; Tribal Christians Protest, Demand Arrests

A Catholic priest and school principal remained in intensive care at a hospital in Ranchi, eastern India, on October 21, after masked men allegedly attacked him with sharp-edged weapons inside his school office in neighboring Khunti district. The assault prompted tribal Christians and other groups to stage protests demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible, Catholic Connect reported.

Fr. Benedict Barla, principal-in-charge of R.C. Middle School in Khunti and assistant parish priest at St. Michael’s Cathedral, sustained severe head injuries and was left unconscious after the attack around 8:50 p.m. on October 20, according to Fr. George Hemrom, secretary to the bishop of the Diocese of Khunti, who spoke to Catholic Connect.

Khunti is a predominantly tribal district in Jharkhand, a state in eastern India with a significant Adivasi (Indigenous) population. The incident has raised concerns among local Christians and community members, who are demanding swift police action.

According to Fr. Hemrom, three to four masked men allegedly attacked Barla near the principal’s and staff offices before stealing money from the office and fleeing. The priest remained unconscious at the scene overnight.

Other priests learned of the attack the following morning and took him to Sadar Hospital in Khunti for initial treatment. Because of the severity of his injuries, he was referred to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi. He was subsequently admitted to the intensive care unit of Pulse Hospital in Ranchi, the state capital.

A report by The Indian Express said CCTV footage showed three masked men arriving at the school on a motorcycle at around 9 p.m. The school was reportedly closed for a festival, while the person who usually stayed with Fr. Barla was away attending his mother’s funeral.

The circumstances have raised questions about whether the attackers knew the priest was alone. However, authorities have not established a motive for the assault.

Police are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to identify the suspects and determine the circumstances of the attack. The weapon used has not been independently confirmed, and no arrests had been reported in the information available on Wednesday.

The assault triggered protests on October 21, when tribal Christians and other groups gathered at Bhagat Singh Chowk in Khunti. Media reports said demonstrators blocked roads and demanded the immediate arrest of the attackers. Some protesters reportedly gave police a 24-hour ultimatum to take action.

Church officials and members of the local community are awaiting further information as the investigation continues. The identities of the assailants and the motive behind the attack remain unknown.