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Mob attacks and manhandles the innocent traveling Christians at Majuli, Assam
Majuli is a river Island in the Brahmaputra river in the district of Jorhat,
Assam. It is the largest river Island in the world with the area of about 577
sq.k.m. The dwellers of Majuli are mostly the tribal flock called the Mishing
and also other tribals like Deoris and Snowal Kacharis and other non-tribals of
Assam. The only mode of contact to the outside world is through a ferry service.
This is also the sacred place of Neo-vasihnavite Satras or monasteries initiated
by great saint Srimanta Sankradeva ( 1449-1569).
Dibrugarh Diocese opened a center in 1987 at Jainkraimukh, among the Mishing
tribals. Fr.Jose Varghese had pioneered this mission. As years passed by some
Mishing tribals freely accepted Catholicism. Today there is a small vibrant
Catholic community who live in peace and harmony.
24th January, 2009 is the day of unique importance to the Mishing Community.
Deacon Hemonto Pegu, one of the sons of this Mishing community, was ordained by
Rt.Rev. Joseph Aind sdb, as the first Mishing Catholic priest. To witness this
great event, many priests and faithful were invited by the parish priest Fr.
Bartholomew Bhengra. Besides the number of priests and religious, about 400
Adivasi Catholics mainly from St. Antony's parish, Mariani, had gone from the
main land crossing the mighty river. There were also people from other parishes
like Sarupathar; Naojan; Jagun; Dibrugarh etc. It was a great joy for our
Christians to cross the river and go into the Majuli Island for the first time.
Many women, children, youth were in the group. We had crossed the river at 6.30
a.m (takes 2 hours) and traveled by bus for an hour to reach the Jengarimukh,
and took part in the ordination ceremony which was held at 10. a.m. We had the
great experience of seeing the first Mishing priest and receive his blessings.
After the ordination and community meal we started our return journey towards
the river by jeeps; hired busses and a truck at 2. 00 p.m. to get the boat at 4
p.m. As a few jeeps with the priests and religious reached a place called
Kamalabari, a small town ship (25 k.m away from Jengraimukh), an angry mob
forcefully stopped the vehicles and questioned priests about the reason for
their coming to this island. When they told them that they have come to witness
the ordination of Hemanto Pegu, they shouted, "You missionaries, why are you
converting the tribals? Never come back again and if you do come back, we will
cut you into pieces and throw you into the Brahmaputra" they were allowed to
proceed to the ferry Ghat.
After a while, Fr.Caesar Henry, the parish priest of St.Antony's Church, Mariani
and Fr.G.P.Amalraj, the Principal of St.Xavier's High school, Duliajan came in a
Sumo followed by two busses and a truck with the Catholic faithful. We noticed a
big crowd of people, numbering about 600, blocking the road. We thought that
there might be political meetings. As soon as we reached the Komalabari petrol
pump, we, two priests, were pulled out from the sumo and manhandled. They
shouted, "here are the missionaries, kill these dogs". The mob kicked and
punched us. Sr.Tessy Thomas SC and Sr. Regi Bosco SC with the help of our girls,
blocked the blows and kicks and protected us. The violent crowd used abusive
languages and mocked at us and compelled us to walk all the way to the Ferry
Ghat which is about 5 k.m.. it was 3.00 p.m
Then the mob rushed to the bus and stopped it, they made the people to get down
from the bus. The innocent people got down from the bus and was told to hold
their ears and promise that they would not come again to Majuli. The men were
beaten and kicked like dogs. Thinking that something serious is going to happen
to the people we turned back towards the bus to protect the people, but were
blocked by the agitating crowd. We were anxious about the safety of the village
Adivasi Catholics who had come for the first time to see Majuli and witness the
ordination.
They humiliated the people with the abusive words like, " you Chai bhagan ( tea
garden) people, you Koolies ( labour) are worth only for two rupees ; you dogs;
you beef eaters, did you come to eat beef here?; this is the land of the Hindus
and you have no right to come here ! why do you come to convert the tribals. The
men were mercilessly beaten, the children got panic and cried aloud. Even today
many women and children are in deep trauma. There were few police men who just
stood helplessly. Among many others, Fr.Thomas sdb from Don Bosco High School,
Bogchung, Jorhat also fell victim to the violent attack. There followed,
Fr.Victor Toppo, from Holy Cross parish, Naojan on a motor cycle, he was stopped
and inhumanly kicked with shoes and beaten.
The mob shouted: Missionaries go back!, Christians should not enter our place,
they used abusive language, they ridiculed our innocent tea garden people and
our religion. They made the people to remove their chapels and hold their ears
and walk bear foot for five kms. Even the women and children were not spared
from walking bear foot to the ferry Ghat. As we were walking, the Komalabari
people abused us verbally. This drama lasted for an hour. Meantime, we got in
touch with our center at Jengraimukh. Fr.Parish priest immediately acted and
informed the civil authorities and additional force of police was rushed and the
situation was brought under control. The truck with the students and youth were
given police protection, however, there was stone pelting and some students of
Holy Cross School, Naojan sustained injuries in stone pelting incident. At about
6.00 P.M. the civil administration arranged special boats and assisted us to
cross the river.
The innocent people had to suffer physically and mentally for being Christians.
They were treated like the salves of pre-independent India. We were not on a
mission to convert the tribals as alleged by the Komalabari people but using
this opportunity when the first Mishing priest was getting ordained many had
made their first ever visit to this world famous Island. This brutal attack is a
slur on the harmonious co-existence of the people of Assam. In spite of such a
planned attack on the innocent Christians, our sprits are high and we recall the
words of Jesus, "If the world hates you, remember that the world hated me before
it hated you" Jn 15: 18. We pray, "Father forgive them for they do not know what
they are doing" Lk 23: 34
As we have just celebrated the 60th Republic day, we can not but question, "Are
we not Indians?
Do we not have the right to move from place to place without being harassed and
persecuted because we belong to a group and profess a faith? The constitution
provides freedom and equal rights to all. Does our great Gurus and Sages teach
us to abuse or ill-treat innocent and simple people who go to attend social and
religious celebrations? Do we not have the right to profess and practice a
religion at our choice? The bible says: "They charged them not to speak or teach
at all in the name of Jesus: Act. 4: 18. But " the apostles went out from the
Sanhedrin rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer disgrace for the
sake of the name" Act. 5: 41. We rejoice because we have paid a little price for
our faith in Christ. This unacceptable harassment meted out to the innocent
Christian community has gravely hurt the religious sentiments of the Christians.
We strongly protest the gross violation of the human rights and dignity of the
people.
Fr. Caesar Henry A
St. Antony's Church
Mariani – 785 634
Jorhat-Dt. Assam
Email: caesarhenry@gmail.com
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