Priest attacked at school, in a serious condition in hospital

Ranchi (AsiaNews) - A priest from the Diocese of Khunti, in the Indian state of Jharkhand, has been seriously injured by unidentified assailants. Fr Benedict Barla, headteacher of St Michael’s Middle School in the district of Khunti, was found lying in a pool of blood on the school premises at around 8.30 this morning. Fr Barla is now in a hospital in Ranchi in a serious condition. Initially taken to Khunti Sadar Hospital, where doctors administered first aid, Fr Barla was then transferred to Pulse Hospital in Ranchi.

The motive for the attack and the identity of the assailants remain unknown at present. The police are investigating the case from every possible angle and are gathering evidence to identify and arrest those responsible.

According to Fr Bisu Benjamin, Vicar General of the Diocese of Khunti, CCTV footage shows three masked men arriving on a motorbike and entering the school premises at around 9 pm yesterday. “It would appear that they entered and attacked the headteacher when he came across them. It seems they used whatever they could find there to strike him,” Fr Benjamin told The Indian Express.

“As Fr Barla is already diabetic, doctors are trying to stabilise his condition before considering surgery,” added the Vicar General.

The school was closed yesterday for a public holiday, and the person who usually assists the headteacher 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 headteacher was alone,” said Fr Benjamin, whilst refusing to speculate on their identity or motive. “We do not want to speculate: we will wait for the authorities and the police to investigate. We do not want rumours to spread that create divisions in society,” he commented.

“According to the doctor’s report, Fr Benedict was probably struck with a spade, which the police found and seized,” the Bishop of Khunti, Monsignor Binay Kandulna, later told AsiaNews. “It appears that three or four people had already broken into the school building to steal from his office. It was dark, so Fr Barla could not see them, and when he opened the gate to enter his office, they attacked him.
His condition is very critical, partly due to his pre-existing health complications.”

The local MP for Khunti and others visited the hospital today to enquire about Fr Barla’s condition, whilst Adivasi groups and Christian organisations took to the streets to protest against this act of violence.