Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tezpur (Fides) - Catholics in the north east Indian state of Assam are still under shock after a priest in the diocese of Tezpur was found stabbed to death at the Bishop’s House. The murder took place during the night of 2 September. The priest was 65 year old Mathew Nellickal acting vicar general of the diocese and former headmaster of the local Don Bosco high-school. The identity of the attacker or attackers and the motive are still unknown say Tezpur police who are investigating the case.
The priest’s body was found by co-workers concerned when he failed to appear for mass last Saturday morning. Fr. Mathew had been stabbed at least ten times in the head and various other parts of the body. Police say the priest may have known his murderer since the residence showed no signs of breaking and entering. The criminal is said to have left by boat since the River Bramaphutra flows along the north side of the Bishop’s House.
The local Church is in mourning and as the news spread a constant flow of clergy, religious and laity came from all over Tezpur and beyond to pay last respects to Fr. Mathew who was from Kerala. The Bishop of Tezpur Robert Kerketta was away in Rome at the time. It has still to be decided if Fr Mathew will be buried in Assam where he had ministered for 30 years or in his home town in Kerala state.
Local church sources say the priest was a man at peace with all. He was loved by everyone because he went out of his way to be of service to all irrespective of caste or race, social standing or religion.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference has condemned the episode and in a letter to the National Minorities Commission the Bishops have requested an inquiry to find and punish those responsible. Fr Babu Joseph Bishops’ Conference spokesman said the priest’s murder must be viewed in the context of repeated acts of violence all over India against Catholic institutions, places of worship and persons.
Christians in the region are 15% of the population in Terzpur and 3% in the state of Assam and they suffer the consequences of a general climate of violence in north east India. Controlled with difficulty by British colonial rule, the area has always claimed independence from New Delhi, on the grounds of different ethnic origin, language and culture. For years the central government has used force to subdue insurgence and settle tribal conflict but guerrilla warfare has persisted in the states of Nagaland, Assam, Mizoara, Manipur, Meghalaya for fifty years. North east India consists of seven states with a total population of 44 million people of no less than 300 different ethnic groups.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/9/2005 righe 31 parole 345)
