Fr Bernard Digal succumbs to injuries: Orissa violence

Fr Bernard Digal, a victim of beating and violence in Orissa's Kandhamal district, succumbed to his injuries on October 28, yesterday.

The Christian prelate on Saturday, October 25, was taken to St Thomas Hospital in Chennai, where doctors operated on him to remove a blood clot from his brain, caused by the beating on the night he was attacked.

"Yesterday, his lungs collapsed and he fell into a coma...The religious was given a respirator to keep him alive, but his body gave out," AsiaNews reported.

"Fr. Bernard has been given the martyr's crown," Raphael Cheenath, archbishop of Cuttack–Bhubaneshwar said. "Fr. Bernard succumbed to the merciless beatings from the Hinduvta extremists."

On August 24, Father Digal was attacked by an angry mob with crowbars and sticks, according to his statements to UCA News.

"Seeing the mob, we ran," shared Father Digal. "Pradhan ran fast, but I was caught. The mob shouted to each other to kill me. I pleaded for my life, but they ignored me."

"The beatings came like heavy rain. They stripped me naked and asked for mobile phones," the priest recalled.

He said he managed to run some distance but was caught. "I fell to the ground and they continued hammering me. Soon I saw blood flowing from my head and lost consciousness. They thought I was dead and left me."

In his semi–conscious state, the priest said he thought he heard wolf cries and feared the animals would feed on him. "I thought I might not even get a burial. I prayed to the Lord."

Later some villagers rescued the priest and admitted him to a public health center in the village.

In the ensuing violence, clergies were attacked, churches were burnt, a nun gang–raped and Christian women abused by Hindu hardliners avenging the murder of a VHP leader.

Over 20,000 are still believed to be sheltered in state run relief camps.