Police probe robbery, attack on priests in eastern India
The attack came when the students were away for summer vacation
Updated: May 26, 2025 12:51 PM GMT
Police in eastern Indian Odisha state have started probing an armed robbery at a Catholic seminary that left two Catholic priests assaulted and injured and valuables looted.
A gang of nine suspected robbers barged into Carmel Niketan minor seminary in Charbati of Kuchinda in the state in the early hours of May 23, said Father Thomas Bose Velassery, the regional vicar of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. The seminary is managed by the religious order.
He said during the attack, two priests – Silvin K. S., 40, and Linus George, 90 – who look after the seminary, were tied, assaulted, and their phones snatched.
During the attack, the seminary was mostly deserted as students were away on summer holidays, he added.
Father Kishore Lakra, a former faculty member of the seminary, said the priests were assaulted after they woke up hearing the barking of the dogs.
“Only the priests and the cook were in the facility during the incident,” he told UCA News.
When they cried out for help, angry robbers beat them up with sticks and iron rods before leaving with cash and valuables, he said.
Two hours later, Father Silvin managed to free himself and sought outside help using a torchlight, he added.
All three were admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment of their injuries.
Police said they are still investigating the case to ascertain the identity of the masked robbers.
Father Lakra said theft and robbery at Christian properties are not new in Odisha.
He referred to the March 21 robbery of Holy Family Church in Sambalpur diocese when the robbers ransacked the Church and stole the tabernacle and donation box.
Church officials from the Sambalpur diocese reported that thieves broke into the Church in Titilagarh, Balangir district, and stole the tabernacle and money, but did not damage the statue of Mother Mary located near the donation box.
The diocese covers forested and mountainous areas of Odisha, spanning 9,675 square kilometers. The diocese has approximately 48,000 Catholics among more than 8 million people living within its territory.
Local Catholics are primarily from diverse tribal groups.
Odisha is also known for the persecution of Christians by Hindu hardliners.
In 2008, Odisha’s Kandhamal district witnessed one of the worst anti-Christian violence that left at least 39 Christians killed and as many as 70,000 became homeless, according to official government reports.
Other reports said the death toll was 100, and some 40 Christian women were sexually assaulted by a Hindu mob.
At least 100 churches and between 5,000 and 6,000 houses were destroyed in the violence.
