1900 India: Surprise attack on Nashik seminarian baffles staff
austraLasia #1900
Surprise attack on Nashik seminarian baffles seminary staff
MUMBAI: 10th July 2007 -- A surprise attack on a young
Salesian seminarian at Nashik, in Maharashta state, has not only left
the 24 year old in hospital, but has baffled the Rector and staff at
the seminary. The incident occurred on 8th July. The
seminarian was making a visit to the village of Chandsi to conduct
programs for village youth, something he had been doing for about a
year, when he was set upon by some eight as yet unidentified young men
who 'came from nowhere and attacked him from behind', according to the
Rector, Fr Ashley Miranda.
The seminarian was not alone - two of them had set
out for the village, but one had stopped to repair his bicycle
change. The other rode ahead, and that was when the attack
occurred. The injured seminarian was taken to hospital where he
received a number of stitches. He had been beaten with hockey
sticks and cricket stumps.
The seminary at Nashik has been in existence for
some 30 years. Currently there are 56 students of philosophy and
17 novices in residence. Relationships with local villages have been
excellent, although the Salesians in the city are sensitive to the fact
that Nashik is a centre of Hindu pilgrimage. The activity in the
villages does not involve evangelisation but teaching of English,
personality development skills, games with the children.
Mumbai Provincial, Fr Ivo Coelho, has expressed his
concern at the attack and has indicated that the matter is in the hands
of the police. It would seem that no youths from Chandsi village were
involved. The seminarian is recovering from his injuries. _________________ AustraLasia is an
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