New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has expressed deep anguish and strongly condemned an incident wherein a mob allegedly attacked two Catholic priests and a catechist in Jaleswar, Odisha, on Wednesday (August 6).

The CBCI said in a statement that the latest 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.

The CBCI statement added that according to reports, the attack took place when Fr. Lijo, Parish Priest of St. Thomas’ Church, Jaleswar, accompanied by another priest, two nuns, and a catechist, were returning to the parish after celebrating a requiem Mass in a Catholic home in a nearby village.

“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,” said the CBCI statement.

South First posted on X about the incident and said that a group of nearly 70 Bajrang Dal members allegedly attacked the two Catholic priests, two nuns, and the catechist accusing them without evidence of engaging in religious conversions.

“The victims of the attack, particularly Fr. Lijo and Fr. Jojo, were left shaken and disheartened by the experience. The lack of immediate police action and the failure to recover stolen property, such as the mobile phones, have added to the community's distress. As of the latest reports, no formal FIR had been filed, and church officials were awaiting the arrival of Bishop Varghese Thottamkara to assess the situation further,” the post added.

The CBCI said in its statement that 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 statement.

“The CBCI calls 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,” said the CBCI statement.

The CBCI said that it 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.

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