Carollers arrested and priests attacked in separate fracas

Several carol singers including priests have been arrested in India after a man claimed they were trying to convert him.

The following day Hindu activists allegedly assaulted eight priests and set fire to their vehicle outside an Indian police station as the clergy tried to help the 30 seminarians and two priests that were arrested, according to ucanews.com.

The trouble began when the carollers from St Ephrem’s Theological College in Satna, Madhaya Pradesh State, went to a local village to sing carols.

Fr George Mangalappally said that as they were singing, an angry mob started shouting slogans against what they regarded as an attempt at conversions.

“One of them called police and demanded action against us,” Fr Mangalappally said.

Custody

A police officer, on condition of anonymity, stated that after being arrested and charged the carollers were kept in ‘protective custody’ because of fears they would be attacked if released immediately.

Fr Anish Emmanuel was among those who went to the police station to aid the carollers.

However, about 100 Hindus attacked them in the police compound, according to Fr Emmanuel.

“We were beaten up in front of the police, but they did nothing,” he said.

“They set our vehicle on fire, forcing us to take shelter inside the police station.”

Bishop Joseph Kodakkailil explained that a villager falsely claimed he was offered 5000 rupees (€65) to convert to Christianity, and that for the last two years the diocese has been experiencing hostility.

Persecution Relief, an ecumenical forum documenting Christian persecution, said this was the 48th attack on Christian carollers in India this Christmas.

Overall, more than 650 attacks on minority Christians have been reported in the Hindu-majority nation so far in 2017.

Last month Ireland held the country’s first ‘Red Wednesday’. Organised by Aid to the Church in Need, churches were lit in red in solidarity with persecuted Christians around the world.

Red is the Christian colour of martyrdom.