Everything to know about the attack on a Congolese church that killed nearly 40 worshippers
At least 38 people were confirmed dead in the church while another five were killed in a nearby village. The victims included 19 men, 15 women and nine children.
The attacks in Komanda town in the conflict-battered region were carried out by the Allied Democratic Force, a rebel group backed by the Islamic State that has mostly targeted villagers in eastern Congo and across the border in Uganda, the Congolese army said.
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The Hindu
31 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Venugopal writes to Shah, Chhattisgarh CM seeking closure of ‘fabricated case' against 2 nuns
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal on Tuesday separately wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai urging them to take necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the 'fabricated case' against two Catholic nuns from Kerala who are accused of human trafficking and forced conversion. In his letters to Mr. Shah and Mr. Sai, Mr. Venugopal also demanded that strict legal proceedings be initiated against those who physically attacked the nuns and the tribal women. Two nuns from Kerala and another person, accused of human trafficking and forced conversion, were released from the Durg Central Jail in Chhattisgarh on Saturday after a court granted them bail, holding that the case was based on 'mere suspicion.' Leaders of the Congress and the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala welcomed the news and accused the BJP of ignoring the atrocities against minorities in the States ruled by it while championing their cause in the southern State. In his letter to Mr. Shah, Mr. Venugopal said the arrest of the nuns and the events leading up to it represent a gross misuse of state power, driven not by law but by communal prejudice and political malice. 'The arrest stemmed from an entirely baseless FIR filed by a Bajrang Dal-affiliated individual, who fabricated allegations against the nuns based on vague 'apprehensions.' Far from being victims of trafficking or conversion, they were assaulted and coerced by Bajrang Dal members to give false statements implicating the nuns,' the MP from Kerala's Alappuzha said. 'Despite repeated complaints from the nuns and tribal women about manhandling, coercion, and mistreatment, the police have failed to register an FIR against the actual perpetrators. This blatant inaction reflects the disturbing bias, double standards, and extreme one-sidedness in what is clearly a politically motivated case of misrepresentation and harassment,' Mr. Venugopal said. The conditional bail granted to the accused after eight days of unjust incarceration following sustained protests by the Opposition and the public, including the Christian community, is an indictment of the injustice they were subjected to, he alleged. 'I urge you to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of this fabricated case in a time-bound manner, ensuring that the investigation reflects the truth and upholds constitutional values. At the same time, I also demand that strict legal proceedings be initiated against those who physically attacked the nuns and the tribal women. An FIR must be filed based on their statements,' Mr. Venugopal said in his letter to Shah. The impunity enjoyed by such vigilante elements must be decisively ended if the rule of law and constitutional order are to be upheld, he said. Mr. Venugopal made similar demands in his letter to Mr. Sai. Earlier in the day, United Democratic Front (UDF) MPs held a protest in the Parliament House complex, demanding that the cases in Chhattisgarh against the Catholic nuns be dropped and the 'Bajrang Dal goons who attacked the nuns' and the women be prosecuted for their hate crimes. Catholic nuns Preethy Mary and Vandana Francis and another person were arrested by the Government Railway Police (GRP) at the Durg railway station on July 25 following a complaint from a local Bajrang Dal functionary, who accused them of forcibly converting three girls from Narayanpur and trafficking them. The arrest sparked off a political slugfest with the Congress and CPI(M) criticising the police action and Mr. Sai accusing them of politicising the issue.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Catholic Sabha demands justice for nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh
Mangaluru/ Udupi: Hundreds of citizens, social activists, and religious leaders gathered outside the Mini Vidhana Soudha on Monday, under the aegis of the Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, to demand justice for two Catholic nuns and a tribal youth arrested in Chhattisgarh under dubious charges. They stood in solidarity with Sister Preethi Mary and Sister Vandana Francis—both from Kerala—and Sukaman Mandavi of Narayanpur, arrested on July 25 at Durg Railway Station on alleged charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion of three tribal women. Santosh D'Souza, president of the Catholic Sabha, delivered the opening remarks. Rophy D'Costa, former president and PRO of the Catholic Sabha, delivered the keynote address, underscoring the increasing intolerance and misuse of legal systems to target marginalised communities. Sr. Severine Menezes, former president of Conference of Religious India (CRI) Mangalore, said, "Christian institutions serve the most vulnerable—with education, healthcare, and social upliftment. To accuse us of coercion is to attack every person who selflessly serves." Rev Fr Dominic Vas, present CRI president and parish priest of St Mary's Church, Bikarnakatta, said, "We hold the Bible in one hand and the Constitution in the other. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo We are patriots—not fanatics. This case is fabricated and must be quashed. Justice delayed is justice denied." Roy Castelino, PRO of the Diocese of Mangalore, said, "The woman who lodged the complaint has vanished. Yet the sisters were quickly arrested. This is not justice. We demand that Jyothi Sharma face charges for filing a false, malicious complaint." The demonstration was also joined by former MLA JR Lobo, clergy members, and religious sisters—symbolising a united, intergenerational stand against rising hostility. A massive protest was held on Monday near the Ajjarakadu Martyrs' Memorial in Udupi, organised under the leadership of the Catholic Sabha of Udupi, in collaboration with various supporting organisations. The protest condemned the wrongful arrest and inhuman treatment of Christian nuns in Chhattisgarh based on false allegations.
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
The race for the Catholic vote in Kerala
On July 25, when the Chhattisgarh police arrested two nuns from Kerala on charges of forced conversion and trafficking, political parties in the southern State sprang into action. In a rare, united show of urgency, the LDF and the UDF dispatched separate delegations to Chhattisgarh. The BJP is in power in Chhattisgarh; yet its Kerala unit also sent a team, determined not to be outdone. All their efforts paid off as the nuns were finally granted bail by an NIA court. This wasn't the first time that Christian missionaries from Kerala faced legal trouble or vigilante hostility in north India. However, what set this case apart, and gave it sharp political resonance, was that the nuns were Catholic. Their detention triggered anger, coming as it did just months ahead of two elections: one to the local bodies and another to the Assembly. As Kerala's third largest demographic group after Hindus and Muslims, Christians, especially Catholics, have long wielded significant influence in the State — not just in education, healthcare, and charitable initiatives, but also in politics and policymaking. However, in the last few years, the community appeared to drift to the political margins. Attention turned inwards, with growing concerns over issues such as the massive wave of youth migration to the West. The Chhattisgarh episode thrust the Church back into the spotlight even as there remains ambiguity about its political alignment. Historically, the Catholic vote was regarded a pillar of support for the Congress-led UDF, especially in the central Travancore region. But that relationship began to weaken after the fall of the UDF government. The death of Kerala Congress patriarch K.M. Mani and of senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy further deepened the disconnect. The CPI(M)-led LDF was quick to seize the opportunity. By aligning with Kerala Congress (M), a splinter group with Catholic roots, it managed to break into the UDF stronghold in central Travancore. In the last Assembly elections, the LDF not only retained power, but also made significant inroads into Catholic-majority constituencies. The Church, however, did not remain silent. It challenged the LDF government on issues such as agrarian distress and wild animal attacks. Trying to reclaim lost ground, the Congress in May named Sunny Joseph, a Catholic leader with strong ties across the Catholic dioceses of central Travancore and Malabar, as head of the party in Kerala. As the Congress holds just three of the 21 seats in central Travancore, it is hoping that this appointment will lead to its political revival. Meanwhile, the BJP has been slowly cultivating the Catholic vote in Kerala. What began as an unspoken alignment on shared anxieties, such as 'love jihad' and 'narcotic jihad', gradually evolved into a strategic outreach effort. The party began inducting Christian leaders and building quiet channels with sections of the Church. In April 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Sacred Heart Cathedral Church in New Delhi and then met with top bishops in Kochi. However, the honeymoon was short-lived. The violence against churches in Manipur severely strained this fledgling alliance. The BJP then attempted course correction by echoing the Church's criticism of pro-Palestinian rhetoric from rival parties and by supporting the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council's call for greater political engagement from Christians. The Waqf Board land controversy in Munambam also helped the party attract segments of the Catholic clergy and laity. Recognising the growing political stakes, the Church has begun to assert itself more in public affairs. Yet beneath this assertion lies an internal dissonance. While a few clergy members appear willing to engage with the BJP, a large section remains cautious, primarily due to the party's ties with Hindutva groups known for anti-Christian rhetoric. Just as Kerala's political class started to realise that Catholic votes are in play, the Chhattisgarh episode unfolded. For the Catholic Church, the arrests served as a wake-up call about how its clergy and members are perceived, especially in parts of north and central India. The next two election cycles could determine how the Church chooses to position itself politically. For now, every party is on high alert, knowing that this once-reliable bloc is no longer guaranteed, but is very much worth fighting for.
