Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews) – “We seek no revenge. We harbour no hatred. We ask only for truth, justice, and our son’s release,” said Nancy Sequeira, mother of Catholic physician Dr Randall Sequeira, in her appeal for his immediate release from judicial custody in Odisha, eastern India.
Dr Sequeira, a graduate of St. John’s Medical College in Bengaluru (Bangalore), works among the tribal communities of the Kalahandi district in Odisha (Orissa).
He was arrested alongside activist Laxman Naik in connection with protests against bauxite mining in the region. The police accuse the two men of inciting villagers to attack law enforcement officers during a confrontation in the town of Kantamal last April.
The charges brought against them include serious criminal offences, allegations that the family rejects, pointing out that their son had always dedicated himself to providing medical care and defending the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalised communities.
In a statement published on Friday by Countercurrents, and subsequently republished bySabrangIndia, Nancy Sequeira describesthe anguish her family has endured sinceher son’sarrest, a man who has devoted his life to serving impoverished and exploited communities, including the Adivasi people.
“As parents, our hearts are deeply pained to see our beloved son, Randall Sequeira, in judicial custody,” she writes. “We firmly believe that he is not involved in any criminal activities.”
“The poor need their doctor”
In her statement,Ms Sequeiraexplainsthat her son’s commitment to Adivasi communities stems from his concern for their often tragic conditions.
“Randall has stood beside the Adivasi people because he is deeply concerned about their lives, their health, their ancestral lands, and their future,” she says.
Herson fears that mining activities could expose already vulnerable communities to serious health problems and deprive them of the environment and the means of subsistence upon which they depend.
“The poor and oppressed need Randall. They need their doctor, their compassionate healer, and someone who cares about their suffering,” she stresses. “His place should be among the people he has dedicated his life to serving.”
The hilly regions of Sijimali and Kutrumalli have been the site of protests against bauxite mining projects, with some local residents expressing concerns regarding environmental damage, displacement, and the impact on traditional livelihoods.
For Randall Sequiera’s mother, the issue is not merely about her son’s legal situation, but about the fate of the communities he serves.
A mother’s faith and forgiveness
Nancy Sequeiraspoke abouta moving telephone conversation she had with her son while he was in pre-trial detention. During the call, Randall told his parents how very sorry he was.
“Those words touched our hearts deeply,” she wrote. “But, my dear son, you have nothing to apologise to your parents for. Our love for you is unconditional.”
Sheadded that the family would continue to stand by him, drawing strength from their faith in God. “We do not wish ill upon anyone. We forgive everyone, even those whom we believe have wronged our son,” she added.
However, forgiveness does not mean giving up the pursuit of justice,she emphasised. Quoting the biblical injunction, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed” (IS, 1:17), NancySequieracalls for a fair trial and an opportunity for the truth to come out.
The plea from the wounded yet hopeful mother ends with a prayer for her son’s release and for the protection of Adivasi communities.
“Lord, please bring our son Randall home. The poor need him. The sick need him. The oppressed need him. His family needs him.”
Catholic solidarity
St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences (SJNAHS) in Bengaluru, the institution from which Sequeira graduated, has also expressed concern regarding his arrest.
In a press release dated 19 October, SJNAHS Director Father Jesudoss Rajamanickam said that the institution was saddened by the news of the doctor’s arrest and hoped for his swift release.
The statement expresses solidarity with Sequeira and his family, calling for a quick and peaceful resolution to the matter.
Sequeira, who grew up in Mumbai, studied medicine at St. John’s Medical College, later pursuing postgraduate studies in internal medicine. In 2017, he moved to Odisha to work with organisations serving tribal communities.
His work included organising health camps and initiatives aimed at addressing the needs of people in remote villages, where access to medical services remains limited.
His arrest raises concern among activists and civil society groups, who have questioned the circumstances of the case and called for his release. The charges against him remain a matter for the courts to decide.
For his mother, however, the immediate plea is deeply personal, that her son be treated fairly and allowed to return to the people hehasserved for years.
“May Almighty God hear a mother’s prayer, comfort a father’s heart, protect the Adivasi people, and bring Randall safely back to the people who need him,” she said.
Bishop Percival Joseph Fernandez,aformer director of St. John's Medical College, also expressed himself in similar terms. “It is indeed regretful that a person spending his life for the helpless people is himself made helpless!!! Sad indeed!” he told AsiaNews.
