Ranchi (AsiaNews) – A priest in the Diocese of Khunti, in the Indian state of Jharkhand, has been left seriously injured following an attack by unidentified assailants.
Father Benedict Barla, principal of St Michael Middle School in the Khunti district, was discovered lying in a pool of blood on the school premises at approximately 8:30 am today, and taken to a hospital in Ranchi, where he remains in serious condition.
He was initially taken to Khunti Sadar Hospital, where he received emergency medical attention, before he was moved to Pulse Hospital in Ranchi.
The motive for the attack and the identities of the assailants remain unknown. The police are investigating the case from every possible angle and are collecting evidence to identify and apprehend those responsible.
According to Father Bisu Benjamin, vicar general of the Diocese of Khunti, CCTV footage shows three masked men arriving on a motorcycle and entering the school grounds at around 9:00 pm yesterday.
“It seems they may have entered the office and attacked the principal when he came across them. They appear to have used whatever they could find there to hit him,” Father Benjamin told The Indian Express.
“As Barla was already diabetic, doctors were trying to stabilise his condition before considering surgery,” the vicar added.
The school was closed yesterday for a holiday, and the person who usually stays with the principal had also left to attend his mother’s funeral. He returned after the burial, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
“The attackers may have known that the principal was alone,” said Father Benjamin, who declined to speculate about their identities or motive.
“We do not want to speculate about who could be behind this. We will wait for the administration and police to investigate. We do not want rumours to spread and create divisions in society,” Benjamin said.
"As per the doctor’s report, Fr Benedict was attacked by probably a spade which the police found and taken - the bishop of Khunti, Msgr. Binay Kandulna, later told AsiaNews -. It looks that three or four persons had already entered the school building to steal from his office. It was dark so Father could not see them and when he opened the grill to enter his office they attacked him. His condition is very critical, also due to his health complications".
The local MP for Khunti, along with others, visited the hospital today to check on Father Barla’s condition, while Adivasi groups and Christian organisations took to the streets to protest against this act of violence.
