12 Muslims arrested from group that attacked the church of Boldipukur
Dinajpur (AsiaNews)
- Police have arrested 12 Muslims accused of taking part in the robbery of the Catholic
church Boldipukur July 6 and the police are looking for other accomplices.
During the assault three PIME nuns suffered attempted rape and are now in
Dhaka, in their provincial home, trying to overcome the shock and mental
suffering. "It's very sad that the sisters cannot continue to work for the
people, but our sisters are no longer safe," said Rosaline Costa Catholic human
rights activist. "I have lodged strong complaints over the attack on these
religious sisters - she adds- and the Church, if the Church is not safe nobody
will go to the seminary or formation house to become priest or nun. It is a
challenge for church". La
Costa has called for the punishment those involved in the attack.
In fact, from the day of the robbery, Boldipukur Christians have been living in
fear for their lives. According to Boldipukur Church sources, the Muslims who
attacked the church were looking for documents on land ownership and the attack
on the nuns as well as the theft of valuables. Their main goal were documents pertaining
to land, and its not the first time they have attempted to steal them.
The attack began at 2 in the morning of July 6. The attackers took two night
watchmen, bound them hand and foot and gagged them. They then broke down the
door of the room where the assistant pastor Father Anselmo Marandy was sleeping
and they also raided the convent. The PIME sisters ran the St Mary's Primary
School Adibashi in Boldipukur. The Muslim thieves wanted to know where the land
documents deeds were and even beat up the nuns.
The parishioners are mostly tribal, very poor and poorly educated and often
Muslims try to take over their land. The Diocesan Commission for Justice and
Peace is working on this problem, but with poor results.
Rights groups call for the punishment of the assailants. "We want exemplary
punishment of those involved in the case", said Nirmol Rozario, general
secretary of the Bangladesh Christian Association. He also asked the government
for a thorough investigation on the attack and security for all the churches
throughout the country.
IN THE PHOTO: Bishop Sebastian Tudu and the police during an inspection of the
site of the robbery.
.png)
