In Jabalpur diocese, a director detained during an inspection and other shelters under investigation. Pressure from the president of the National Commission for the Rights of the Child, the Hindu nationalist Priyank Kanoongo, who is no stranger to initiatives against Christian schools. Bishop Almeida asked the faithful to pray: “We have always served the poor, the truth will come out in court.”
Jabalpur () – In the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, the Bishop of Jabalpur, Msgr. Gerald Almeida, invited in a message addressed to the faithful to pray for “all the personnel of the diocese” in the face of the new acts of hostility that have occurred in the last days. The move, dated March 12, concerns a sudden inspection by the Ministry of Child Protection that was carried out at Junwani Diocesan Secondary School and Goreghat Middle School and Boarding School.
The inspection of the pensions for boys and girls assigned to the school was carried out at the request of officials of the National Commission for the Protection of the Rights of the Child. Since it was directed by the Hindu nationalist Priyank Kanoongo, this body has especially targeted the educational institutions of the Christian Churches, which have always been recognized in India as a service to the entire population.
During the inspection in Junwani, one of the girls reportedly accused director Yadav of touching her inappropriately, a complaint following which the police accompanying the inspectors immediately arrested the man. The next day, however, he was immediately released, after other students at the school and their parents organized a demonstration demanding that he be released, claiming that Yadav had been framed in a “totally false case.”
On March 7, however, the director was detained again, apparently under pressure from the president of the National Commission for the Protection of Children’s Rights, Priyank Kanoongo. At the same time, the police inspector who released Yadav was also suspended and the superintendent who had defended him was also removed from his post. The police also registered a complaint against the priests responsible for the two schools, Father Sunny Kurvila in Junwani and Father Zibi Sebastian in Goreghat.
The Jabalpur diocese has been running these schools and homes for boys and girls for more than 80 years: today more than 600 young people attend them. “We have served the poor, but we have never faced a situation like this,” Bishop Almeida told the Catholic website. Matters India. “It is deplorable that the officials who must enforce the laws violate them,” added the prelate, who was confident that “the truth will come out in court.”
In his message to the diocese, Monsignor Almeida invited the faithful to pray to the “Lord who in his justice and mercy protects us and to the Virgin who intercedes for us before the Father.” In particular, the bishop recommended that everyone take a break on these days to pray before the Blessed Sacrament with this intention.
