A scuffle between a Catholic and a Hindu boy has sparked a violent attack on a Catholic parish in the troubled district of Jhabua in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, India, earlier in the month.
Fr PA Thomas, secretary to the bishop of the Jhabua diocese, told the US-based human rights group International Christian Concern that a mob of 300 Hindu fundamentalists pelted the houses of Catholics with stones and attacked them with knives and batons at around 9.30pm on 16 April in Thandla area of Jhabua district,
The attack left at least 11 Catholics injured, including three women. Two young victims, Raju Meda, 16, and Rakesh Amaliyar, 22, remain in a hospital in neighboring Gujarat state's Vadodara district while nine more are recovering in their respective homes.
The attack was so severe that police were forced to use tear gas to break the mob, but not before they left the Catholics with multiple stab wounds to their heads, necks, and other parts of their bodies, leaving some in critical condition, according to Fr Thomas.
The attackers, thought to belong to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, blocked the local people in their efforts to take the injured to hospital until the police arrived.
"The attack was triggered by a minor fight between a Catholic and a Hindu boy, and it took place where none of the two boys lives. We don't even know that the fight was about. The two were coming from a funeral. However, the mob came and started throwing stones on the houses of Catholics in the parish and when some Catholic youths objected to it, they started attacking them," Fr Thomas said.
The Rev Richard Howell, general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India, said, however, that the police have filed a case against four Catholics and arrested one of them following a complaint lodged by the attackers for "disturbing religious harmony."
The victims also lodged a counter complaint against the attackers, naming at least six of them. "However, we do not know if any of the culprits have been arrested," Fr Thomas said.
According to Catholic news agency UCAN News, the situation is tense in the area following the attack and the church authorities have sought police protection against any further attack.
Jeremy Sewall, ICC's Regional Analyst for South Asia, said, "The government officials of Madhya Pradesh state should do themselves a favour and start prosecuting Hindu extremists who attack Christians, preserving law and order, instead of having to call in police to quell mob violence.
"Unless the ruling coalition in the state shows that there are consequences for mob attacks, the state will have to keep riot police on call to protect Christians."
For more on the work of International Christian Concern go to www.persecution.org
