Assault on Missionaries of Charity sisters sparks tension in Kerala; Christians voice protest

Thiruvananthipuram, Kerala – The attack on Christians in Kerala have stepped up with the latest victims being none other than the sisters and nuns of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. In a daring and brutal attack on September 25, a group of people carrying iron rods beat up 6 nuns and 3 priests while they were delivering food and other assistance to Dalits in a slum in Pantheerankave near the city of Calicut.

Initially two nuns were assaulted. However, locals helped them escape to a nearby police station where they called their mission. An hour later, others from the mission arrived on the scene, and they were also attacked. All nine injured were sent to the hospital with head injuries.

Subsequently, the injured nuns and brothers of the Missionaries of Charity were discharged from the Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS). While the nuns left for `Snehabhavan', two of the brothers were shifted to the Nirmala Hospital.

According to news report, the missionaries had gone in their ambulance to the Hindu village to bring food and other assistance to the inhabitants, who are mainly Dalit living in destitution. Upon their arrival, a group of men accosted the driver, questioning him on the reason for their presence in the village. The men, armed with iron rods, then began to beat the driver and smashed the ambulance windows. They then turned on the nuns, ripping the crosses from their necks and injuring the four nuns who are now in hospital. The Hindu Dalit women present raised their voices against the aggression, thus averting a larger disaster.

H. Venkatesh, the city police commissioner admitted that the victims were seriously injured and hospitalized but are on their way to recovery. “All of the injured were locals except for a visiting Kenyan missionary,” he said. He also added that investigations have been stepped up and police have arrested 15 suspects recently and were checking their political affiliations. It is reported that most of them were sympathizers and activists of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). These suspects were questioned at the Nallalam police station and subsequently some of them were let off after the interrogation.

The North Zone Inspector General of Police (IGP), Arvind Ranjan, who is directly monitoring the investigation, said here that the police had got clear information about the accused. Help of artists had been sought to make sketches of some of the accused. The police have taken the issue seriously as the attack on four nuns, three brothers and their two drivers was an unprecedented incident in the State. The police will also be looking into the role of the Kenyan, Brother Bernard, who was also attacked by the gang. He had arrived in the country on a tourist visa and has been in Kozhikode since September 23. But priority will be accorded to the attack on nuns and brothers, Mr. Ranjan said.

In response to severe criticism and pressure for ineffective police policy, Kerala CM Oommen Chandy has assured that the culprits would be brought to justice. Taking note of the inept handling of such sensitive cases by the local police, the Kerala government has entrusted the Crime Branch with the task of further investigation into the recent attacks on the nuns.

According to official sources, Deputy Inspector General of Police Rajesh Diwan would inquire into the case relating to the attack on the nuns.

According to news reports, members of the right–wing Hindu parties Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were behind the attack as many of them shouted “Long Live the BJP” and “Long live the RSS”. BJP and RSS are part of the Sangh Parivar that is a Hindu nationalist conglomerate, often opposed to foreign and non–Hindu influence in the country.