Principal of Catholic school in Delhi shot

In a shocking incident, a Catholic priest who manages a school at Sangam Vihar in South Delhi was shot by two unidentified youths, May 15, giving rise to concerns about the safety of the Christian community in the state.

Father George Phillip, principal of St. Vincent Pallotti School, sustained serious injuries from the gunshots has been admitted to Batra Hospital and the bullets were removed from his chest. His condition is said to be stable.

"He suffered two bullet injuries, one in his chest and the other bullet grazed past his forehead," said a senior police officer.

Police investigating the incident said that they were yet to understand the sequence of events that led to the shooting.

The assailants managed to flee and a manhunt has been launched to arrest them, the police added.

Though preliminary investigations suggest that it was a robbery attempt, the police are not ruling out other possibilities, including the fact that the incident could be a fallout of personal enmity.

The Catholic Bishop Conference of India (CBCI) spokesman Fr. Babu Joseph said that George was attacked without any provocation.

"One of the assailants had visited the school yesterday (Monday) seeking admission for his child. Fr. George asked him to come back next day with the student," Fr. Joseph said.

"Today (Tuesday) the parent came with an associate and asked for admission form that was given to him. Later he pulled a gun and shot at George," he added.

According to Divine Word Father Dominic Emmanuel, Delhi archdiocesan spokesperson, the shooting incident had "no sectarian colors."

What is, however, clear, Father Emmanuel said after visiting the wounded priest in the hospital, is that "the miscreants came prepared with the intention of harming" Father Philip.

"The police are being very naive to say that the attack was carried out because the men wanted to rob Father Philip of a mobile phone," Fr. Emmanuel said. "Why would someone who wants to rob a person of his mobile phone carry a gun inside a school? Or fire three shots at the priest?"

"Since the attackers carried a pistol, there is reason to be worried about the incident. It is clear that the miscreants had come prepared with the intention of harming him, though the motive for the attack is not clear yet," he said.

P.D. Jose, a parishioner in Sangam Vihar, told UCA News some nearby schools might be likely suspects.

"Who knows? Some people are jealous of the Catholic school," he said. Many schools have opened in the area, but people "usually people prefer the Catholic school, because they consider a Catholic school far better than other schools," Jose explained noting that the Sangam Vihar area is infested with criminals.

According to a junior staff at the school, the youths entered Fr. Phillip's office, and at gun–point, asked him to hand over all valuables to them. One of the men pounced on the priest and snatched away his mobile phone. Later, they shot at him twice when he resisted their attempts to rob the school.

The school staff came running on hearing the gunshots and a brief scuffle ensued as they tried to hold back the assailants. But the attackers managed to break free and one of them scaled the main gate, bolted it from outside, and ran towards the main road, while his accomplice scaled the wall and vanished into the woods near the school.

Their country–made revolver, which fell on the ground during the scuffle, was recovered by the police.

The duo managed to flee with the principal's phone, which has been placed under surveillance, said the police. A police team with sniffer dogs visited the school and the adjoining forest, but nothing could be found.

The primary school is run by the Queen of Apostle's Church, based in Kanpur. It was established in 2004. Father Phillip joined as the principal here about six months back. Before that, he was looking after the Indore branch of the school, the police said.