Bhopal: A week after their hostel at Mohanpur in Guna district was confiscated by district administration, Archbishop of Bhopal Diocese Leo Cornelio on Wednesday condemned the incident and demanded that the hostel be given back to Christian community.
The missionaries had been running the hostel for poor tribal children for last 20 years. According to public relations officer Father Maria Stephen, a group of RSS followers reached Mohanpur on September 11 and threatened the priest and children to vacate the place or face dire consequences. Next day, a team of tehsildar, naib tehsildar, revenue inspector, sarpanch, patwari and two policemen “forcefully confiscated the hostel.”
“Policemen along with 5 jeeps full of RSS and VHPs coming in night and disturbing the children is very serious. It is heart breaking to see the welfare and the good studies of poor children halted. We will approach the High Court for the justice,” Archbishop Leo Cornelio said.
He said Mohanpur Mission was started in 1997 to help poor tribal villagers who are mostly farm labourers. Mohanpur is situated 30 kilometres north of Guna. Mohanpur has only 20 Catholics. Catholic mission has a hostel for poor tribal boys who attend the local government school. Father Siljo Kidangan is in-charge of the hostel.
Mohanpur Mission has launched social welfare projects in 40 villages to help the poor. The dispute regarding the ownership of the land is pending in the court. “The Christian community is under threat in Mohanpur. The priest has taken refuge in the nearby mission. The situation is serious,” said Bishop Anthony Chirayath of Sagar Diocese.
When contacted, Guna district collector Rajesh Jain said hostel did not have the required permission. “Only 13 students were residing in the hostel. Revenue department took over the land following court orders,” Jain told Free Press.