Catholic school in India attacked by extremists

Christians have become increasingly targeted by Hindu extremists in India. In a recent incident, a Catholic school was attacked by a mob. Following the attack, a leading Catholic priest in the country stated that Christians were not safe in India.

By ACN Staff

Indian children praying. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

On 6th December, a mob of around 500 Hindu extremists attacked St. Joseph’s Catholic school in Ganj Basoda, Madhya Pradesh, India. During the attack, rocks were thrown at the building, the door was forced open, and the school was stormed. Following the attack, a leading Catholic priest in India has stated that India’s Christians are not safe under the government of Prime Minister Modi. Modi’s government is often described as being Hindutva nationalist.

Father Maria Stephen. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

Father Maria Stephen said the following:

“As long as the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] remains in the government, the Christians will face high levels of injustice and persecution. They are frightened of Christians because of their service and commitment… The fundamentalists feel that the motivation behind our social service is to convert others to Christianity.”

The attack on the school followed rumours that the school had converted eight students. Father Stephen stated that these rumours are not true. The school is run by the Congregation of the Malabar Missionary Brothers of St Francis of Assisi, of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. Father Stephen discussed the issue more:

“Modi personally does not like the people to attack minorities…But there is violence on the increase where the BJP government rules the state… Whenever we meet political leaders, they extend warm greetings and are very friendly. But at times they are not able to control the mob and violence… [Christians are attacked] because the high caste Hindus want their low caste people to serve them. Missionaries educate people to come to the mainstream. A section of the Hindus want the poor to become poorer and rich to become richer.”

Father Stephen was critical of the police’s reaction to the attack:

“The police indirectly supported the mob. The school administration submitted an application for protection a day before but they did not take it seriously. There was a feeling that the superintendent of police did not like the Christians.”

Father Stephen explained that there were some students in the school during the attack:

“The children were scared and frightened. The next day the children refused to come for the examination. They responded to the mob negatively.”

Father Stephen was also critical of the new anti-conversion laws passed. Laws such as these are often used to target Christians:

“According to the new law, the accused should prove their innocence and not the accuser. It takes months and years to get acquitted. So far, no such case has proven that the pastors have forced the people to convert to Christianity.”

Please join us in prayer for our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters in India.