Murdered Salesian hailed as Nepal's first martyr

Christians in the state of Nepal have hailed Father Johnson Prakash, the slain Salesian, as the first Martyr to be murdered for Christ.

Over 1,000 people including priests, nuns and people of other religions attended the funeral of the prelate, in Bandel, Kolkata.

The 60–year–old Indian, was shot and killed by masked men on July 1, inside the Salesian residence in Sirsiya, Nepal.

The missioner's five brothers and some family members from their native Kerala state, southern India, were among those who attended the funeral.

UCA News quoted Father Augustine Pulickal, rector of the mission's Salesian community saying, his murdered confrere was "an activist" who worked for the liberation of people and social change.

People the Salesians serve there are mostly tribal Santhal and low–caste Hindus in need of education and overall development.

After the murder of the priest, local police found Hindu extremist pamphlets at the murder site, indicating the role of Hindu nationalists in the country.

Apparently the Hindu extremists had three months ago asked the priests in the Christian mission to leave and threatened them with dire consequences if they failed.