Catholic priests beaten by Hindu mob inside Indian police station

CV NEWS FEED // Two Catholic priests were physically attacked by a Hindu mob inside a police station in central India, an alarming act of religious violence that has sparked national outcry and renewed fears about growing hostility toward Christians in the region.

Fathers George Thomas and Davis George, both leaders in the Diocese of Jabalpur, had gone to the Ranjhi police station March 31 to assist a group of tribal Catholics who had been detained, UCA News reported. The group — about 50 pilgrims, including women and children, had traveled from Mandla district to visit churches in Jabalpur as part of their Lenten observance.

The priests encountered a hostile crowd upon arriving.

“The Hindu mob surrounded us and shouted slogans against us. Some from the crowd pushed us and slapped us,” Fr. Thomas told UCA News. 

The pilgrims had earlier been intercepted by Hindu activists, who seized their bus keys and took them to the station, accusing them of violating Madhya Pradesh’s anti-conversion laws. The police released the group later that evening, after dispersing the mob. A local officer stated there was “no information regarding any conversion” and said legal action would be taken “if required.”

The assault on the priests prompted more than 1,000 Christians to gather outside Jabalpur’s district police headquarters on April 1 in protest, according to UCA News. They submitted a petition to the district collector, demanding justice and protection. 

India’s Catholic bishops condemned the incident in strong terms, calling it “a shocking attack on religious freedom and human dignity” in an April 1 statement. They urged federal officials, including Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah, to intervene and ensure the rights of religious minorities are upheld.

“It is deeply distressing that the Christian community, which has played a significant role in freedom struggle and nation-building, and has always upheld constitutional values, is repeatedly targeted, harassed, and denied its fundamental right to worship by extremist and anti-national elements,” the bishops said.

Christians represent just 0.27 percent of Madhya Pradesh’s population of 72 million. The vast majority — around 80 percent — identify as Hindu. As previously reported by CatholicVote,  India’s anti-conversion laws have created an environment where the Christian minority are particularly vulnerable to persecution.

According to the bishops’ statement, “[This attack was] not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern and strategy to create communal polarization and hostility toward religious minorities.”