Arbitrary arrest of a Salesian Father of Italian origin
Krishnagar (AsiaNews) The arbitrary arrest of an Italian-born Salesian Father and the subsequent police violence against Christians in Krishnagar (eastern India) have shaken the local Catholic community.
On Saturday, February 12, the police took into custody Fr Luciano Colussi, Vicar General of the diocese of Krishnagar, a city north of Kolkata (ex Calcutta).
Without giving any explanations, police officers arrived in jeeps, entered the Bishop's House and took the 81-year-old to the nearest police station.
"It is very sad that such a shameful and unwarranted arrest took place," said Joseph Gomes, Bishop of Krishnagar. "The police committed a grave error and abuse in arresting Father Luciano".
Bishop Gomes explained that the Salesian is a well known personality in the local community and the violence that was inflicted upon him "has shaken the Catholics of the diocese". For him, the arrest was motivated by "personal revenge".
It started with Father Colussi's refusal to renew an employment contract with Anirudha Das, a physiotherapist working at the Daffodil Clinic for the Disabled, which is owned by the diocese.
"I have informed the District Magistrate of the incident and have asked him to officially investigate the matter," Bishop Gomes said.
Thanks to the intervention of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate and of the local Member of the Legislative Assembly Father Colussi was released on the same day of his arrest.
At the same time however, the police raided the village of Nirmal Nagar, which is close to the Bishop's House, where they beat up men and women.
"The damage that the arrest Fr Luciano Colussi has caused is colossal. The Catholic community is now afraid", Bishop Gomes said. "Catholics feel that members of the majority community can use public institutions in their favour with detrimental consequences for Christians".
Bishop Gomes further said that "before leaving to celebrate mass in the cathedral, I told people to calm down, and not do anything impulsively. But the community would not be calmed down".
Despite their best efforts, the Bishop and local priests could not prevent some Christians from marching on the offices of the superintendent of the police where they demanded an unconditional apology for the humiliation the police inflicted on the 81-year-old priest who has served the people of Krishnagar for some 50 years.
The superintendent refused to meet with the protesters but did agree to receive a four-member delegation to present their case.
During the demonstration skirmishes with the police took place. Some people were injured, two requiring hospitalisation. Eleven were arrested.
A local Catholic leader expressed his fears to AsiaNews: "If this could happen to such a well known and well respected personality like Fr Luciano Colussi, anything can happen to us. [. . .] We feel very vulnerable. Who knows who will be targeted next?"
He added that the "District Magistrate, the superintendent of police and the physiotherapist belong to the majority community. We are a helpless minority."
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