In a disturbing incident on March 31, Catholic priests and laity were attacked by Hindutva extremists while on a pilgrimage for Jubilee 2025 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, central India.
Members of the Bajrang Dal, a Hindu nationalist militant organization, stopped the pilgrims from Mandla parish and took them to the Omti police station.
Following their release, they encountered additional disturbances at a different church and subsequently found themselves at the Ranchi police station. Extremists physically assaulted Father Davis, the Vicar General of Jabalpur, and Father George T., the diocesan procurator, when they arrived to assist.
Despite the violence, the priests remained calm and did not retaliate. Police intervened, ensuring their safe release and escorting them back to Mandla by 5 PM.
The attack has sparked outrage within the Catholic community, with church leaders submitting a memorandum to authorities demanding justice.
While the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the umbrella organization of the Hindu right-wing groups, has distanced itself from the incident, concerns about rising intolerance persist.
On April 1, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) strongly condemned the attack, calling it a violation of religious freedom and human dignity.
The CBCI said that it is "deeply distressing" that the Christian community, which has contributed to the nation’s freedom struggle and development while upholding constitutional values, is repeatedly targeted, harassed, and denied its fundamental right to worship by extremist and anti-national elements.
They urged federal Home Minister Amit Shah and Madhya Pradesh government authorities to take strict action against the perpetrators and protect religious minorities.
Jabalpur, located 310 km from Bhopal, serves as the judicial capital of Madhya Pradesh.
Authorities have launched an investigation, assuring accountability for those responsible.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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