Rourkela, Odisha: In a shocking incident, a group of 15 armed miscreants barged into the Jharabahal Catholic Church under Lathikata block under Brahmani Tarang police limits in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday in Odisha’s Rourkela Diocese at 2:30 am on June 15, attacking the parish priest and his assistant with hockey sticks, iron rods, and crowbars.
The assailants, wearing masks, gloves, and heavy boots, and speaking in Sadri, demanded that the priests reveal the location of the vaults and almirahs containing the church’s funds.
After the priests were Narial Bilung ((Parish Priest – 51 years) and Albis Xalxo (Assistant Parish Priest – 72 years) were severely assaulted, handcuffed and gagged, the miscreants ransacked the premises, taking away all the money (about Rs 3 lakh) and even the bills and payment and receipt vouchers of the parish, schools, and hostels, which were kept ready for audit. The incident lasted for about an hour, with the miscreants leaving the premises in disarray.
The Assistant Parish Priest, Fr Alois Xalxo, managed to untie himself and inform the authorities at 4:30 am. Bishop Kishore Kumar Kujur, local MLA Dr C.S. Rajen Ekka, and police officials led by Deputy SP Nirmal Mohapatra arrived at the scene, conducting a preliminary inquiry and noting the statements of the victim priests.
An FIR has been lodged with the Brahmanitarng Police Station, and the victim priests were taken to Rourkela General Hospital for treatment. The incident has raised several questions, including whether CCTV cameras were installed in the presbytery and how the miscreants obtained insider information about the church’s cash management practices.
The incident also highlights the potential for misuse of the stolen documents, which could be used to delay or derail the audit process. The identity and motives of the attackers remain unknown, and the investigation is ongoing.
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Bangalore: His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Most Rev. Telesphore Bilung, S.V.D. (60), Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi, as Bishop of Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. This provision was made public in Rome on Monday, 1st November, 2021. According to Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), Most Rev. Telesphore Bilung was born on…
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5 comments
Indicative of things to come in odisha. The new CM is a supporter of Dara Singh, who murdered Graham Staines and his children 24 years ago. I have previously warned of trouble to come in odisha
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To my memory, didn’t Dara Singh repent?
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Dara Singh has been convicted of two other murders and is serving his life sentence in jail
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Reproduction of a news and pre-mature speculations/prophesies are of no use at this stage.
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The Telegraph Calcutta of 17th June 2024 reported as follows:
“Two priests at a church in Sundergarh, Odisha, were seriously injured while trying to thwart a robbery that saw the attackers leave with over Rs Ten lakh.
The incident occurred around 2.30 am on Saturday at the Jhorabahal parish. Father Nerial Bilung, the parish priest, and Father Alois Xalxo, the assistant priest, have been admitted to the Rourkela General Hospital with grave injuries.”
Rs Ten Lakh is certainly not petty cash. Why so much cash kept in the parish presbytery without depositing them into bank? This is lackadaisical cash management. The “robbers” were certainly tipped off by insiders. There is no point in blaming the new Orissa government for this goof-up and resultant loss of Laity’s hard-earned money.
Beating and the resultant injuries caused to the two priests are of course heart-rending.
After the priests were Narial Bilung ((Parish Priest – 51 years) and Albis Xalxo (Assistant Parish Priest – 72 years) were severely assaulted, handcuffed and gagged, the miscreants ransacked the premises, taking away all the money (about Rs 3 lakh) and even the bills and payment and receipt vouchers of the parish, schools, and hostels, which were kept ready for audit. The incident lasted for about an hour, with the miscreants leaving the premises in disarray.
Indicative of things to come in odisha. The new CM is a supporter of Dara Singh, who murdered Graham Staines and his children 24 years ago. I have previously warned of trouble to come in odisha
To my memory, didn’t Dara Singh repent?
Dara Singh has been convicted of two other murders and is serving his life sentence in jail
Reproduction of a news and pre-mature speculations/prophesies are of no use at this stage.
The Telegraph Calcutta of 17th June 2024 reported as follows:
“Two priests at a church in Sundergarh, Odisha, were seriously injured while trying to thwart a robbery that saw the attackers leave with over Rs Ten lakh.
The incident occurred around 2.30 am on Saturday at the Jhorabahal parish. Father Nerial Bilung, the parish priest, and Father Alois Xalxo, the assistant priest, have been admitted to the Rourkela General Hospital with grave injuries.”
Rs Ten Lakh is certainly not petty cash. Why so much cash kept in the parish presbytery without depositing them into bank? This is lackadaisical cash management. The “robbers” were certainly tipped off by insiders. There is no point in blaming the new Orissa government for this goof-up and resultant loss of Laity’s hard-earned money.
Beating and the resultant injuries caused to the two priests are of course heart-rending.