Catholic Priests Accused of Rape and Murder

17 March 2004 0 minutes read

Hindu fundamentalists have accused Catholic priests of the rape and murder of a teenage girl in Madhya Pradesh on March 3, despite claims from the Catholics that the death was clearly a suicide. Geeta Devi Saket was a Dalit (low caste) student at Deosar Girls' Boarding School, run by the Catholic diocese of Satna. According to a report from Compass Direct, a maid found the girl's body hanging from an iron doorframe on the evening of March 3.

^VHP Logo

Members of Bajrang Dal, the militant youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council) blamed the Catholic priests, saying that the girl had been raped and then murdered. As workers from the school were taking the girl's body to a nearby hospital for an autopsy, they were attacked. Father Thomas Thelakkatt was beaten to unconsciousness while the others managed to escape, taking Father Thelakkatt back to the mission compound.

According to AsiaNews, the autopsy later confirmed suicide as the reason for the death, but the mob surrounding the mission compound refused to acknowledge the finding. Police tried explaining it to the mass of as many as two thousand people protesting the death, but the mob leaders accused the police of complicity. At last report, police were warning the Catholic workers to remain in the compound.

Christians in India fear further incidents of violence as the April 10 general elections approach. The ruling BJP party has increasingly supported Hindu groups opposed to the spread of Christianity in India.

Pray for the family and friends of this young girl who died. Pray for a full recovery for Father Thelakkatt and safety for the workers in the boarding school. Pray for peaceful and fair elections in India.

For more information on challenges facing Christians in India, click here.

India

India Information

Current Ministry Projects
VOMC assists persecuted Christians with legal support and rehabilitation assistance, and cares for children of martyrs by providing them with a safe place to be nurtured physical and spiritually. VOMC also partners to equip Christians in India with Biblical training and works to strengthen and support marginalized and persecuted Christian women. Additionally, VOMC helps to provide medical assistance to believers who have faced injuries after being attacked.”

Project Funds: Families of Martyrs, Equipping the Saints, Legal Defense, Relief and Development, Women’s Ministry, Medical Fund
Country Information
Population
1,399,179,585 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Indo-Aryan (72), Dravidian (25), other (3)

Religion (%)
Hinduism (79.8), Muslim (14.2), Christianity (2.3), Sikh (1.7), other (2)

Leader
President Droupadi Murmu (2022)

Government type
Federal parliamentary republic

Legal system
Based on English common law; separate personal law codes apply to Christians, Hindus and Muslims.

Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for India
Despite the intimidation and violence that have taken place in many of India's states, may Christians wisely yet unashamedly preach the Gospel. Pray that indigenous Christians and foreign missionaries will minister in ways that do not hint at fraudulent conversions, unmasking the intentions behind the anti-conversion legislation. Intercede for India's leaders, that they may reign with justice and righteousness.