Guwahati: In an unprovoked incident a Church priest was attacked by unidentified assailants in Udalguri District in northern Assam. The incident happened on the evening of 19th June.
Father Sushil John Soren was returning to his residence after conducting a prayer service at student's hostel nearby when a machete wielding perpetrator attacked him fatally injuring his both hands. The assailant fled after Father Soren shouted for help.
Father Soren was immediately taken to a local hospital and later shifted to Guwahati Neurological Research Center where he was operated upon. He was discharged on June 22 after his condition was slated to be stable.
Condemning the attack, Bishop Michael Akasius Toppo of Tezpur said "We are in a state of shock. This is the first ever incident like this in our region. We are clueless about the motive of the attack." He also lamented the fact that so far police have not made any arrests in the case.
On being contacted, Udalguri Deputy Commissioner, Sadhana Hojai said, "According to his statements, he was seemingly followed by the assailant. Although the assailant attacked him with a knife, Fr. Soren resisted leading to a scuffle."
The district administration as well as the Assam State Commission for Minorities had already taken the matter seriously and police have been asked to speed up the inquiry and arrest the culprits.
