Malayali Catholic priest in Odisha chooses not to press charges after Bajrang Dal assault

Fr Lijo Nirappel, the Catholic priest assaulted by Bajrang Dal activists during an attack on priests and nuns from Kerala in Jaleswar, Odisha, has said he will not file a complaint over the incident.

Fr Lijo, vicar of St Thomas Parish Church in Jaleswar, was visited recently by Bishop Mar Varghese Thottamkara of the Balasore Diocese. “I have no interest in registering an FIR or seeking punishment for anyone. However, the incident will be reported to the local police station, and a written explanation will be submitted to the District Collector and local MLA. There is a false campaign alleging that priests and nuns visited the village at night for religious conversion. The truth behind this must be made clear to the authorities,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) confirmed that a complaint will be filed over the assault. Efforts are also underway to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister expressing concern over the prevailing situation, according to Fr Robinson Rodrigues, the CBCI spokesperson.

In a statement, the CBCI condemned the attack as “not an isolated case” but part of a broader pattern of growing intolerance against Christian minorities in India. It urged the Odisha government to trace the accused and take immediate action.

The assault occurred when around 70 people attacked Fr Lijo, Fr V Jojo, Sister Elesa Cherian, Sister Molly Louis, an aide, and their driver. They were returning from an annual mass organised by a Christian family in Jaleswar when they were targeted amid allegations of forced conversions.

MPs Kodikkunnil Suresh, Benny Behanan, Francis George, and Hibi Eden moved a notice for an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha demanding action against the attackers. Left MPs staged a sit-in in front of the Parliament entrance, while UDF MPs protested at Vijay Chowk.

Relief for family back home
At his family home, Jaigiri Nirappel Veetil near Kuravilangadu, relatives expressed relief after receiving a call from Fr Lijo. “He told us there are no problems at the moment and that we should not worry,” said K V George, his father. Fr Lijo also assured them that other priests from the Balasore Diocese were with him.

His parents, Valsamma and K V George, and his brother Tijo, on vacation from Canada with his wife Smitha, are currently at the family home. His sister Tiji, her husband Aji Joseph, and their children also arrived after hearing about the incident.

“Fr Lijo completed his studies in Odisha and was given charge of the school after being ordained in 2010,” said his father. The area where he now serves is underdeveloped and lacks basic facilities. “I still remember him telling me once that he was digging a grave for someone,” added Tijo.

Fr Lijo, who last visited home in 2024, was scheduled to return on August 24. Minister V N Vasavan, along with MLAs Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Mons Joseph, and Chandy Oommen, visited the Nirappel family on Friday. Minister Vasavan said the matter had been brought to the Chief Minister’s attention and confirmed that he had spoken to Fr Lijo over the phone.