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Sister Valsa murder: police try to bury case by arresting people close to the Maoists
by Nirmala Carvalho
But the Church is continuing its investigations into the coal mafia. According to Father Tom Kavalatt SJ, longtime friend of the Catholic nun and director of the Social Action Centre, the seven arrested "are a cover to protect the interests of others."
Dhumka (AsiaNews) - Police in Jharkhand claim to have solved the murder case of Sister Valsa John, the nun of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary murdered on the night of November 15, by arresting seven people close to the Maoists who operates in the area. But Catholic leaderrs doubt this sudden turn of the investigation, arguing that behind the arrest is an attempt to hide the interests of the powerful coal lobby, with which the nun had clashed several times in the past.
According to Inspector General Arun Oraon, the murder took place to prevent Sister Valsa from accompanying a young person to lodge a complaint of an attempted rape, committed by Edwin Murmu. Those arrested killed Sister Valsa because otherwise "she would use her influence to have Murmu arrested." Among those arrested, Marandi Ranjan, known for his links with the Maoists.
Fr. Tom Kavalatt SJ, director of the Action Social Center and longtime friend of Sister Valsa, told AsiaNews: "There are many speculations about the murder of Sister Valsa. Although these seven defendants claim to have the groups behind nassaliti (Maoists, ed) area, we are still investigating. It is possible that others have used their ingenuity to cover the interests of those who wanted to take out Sister Valsa ".