Skip to content
Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

Catholic Bishop abducted, attacked and assaulted before release

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes
'They hit me and punched me, resulting in injuries all over my body. I did not resist.'

Catholic bishop Prasad Gallela was on his way home from Mass on April 25, when two vehicles pulled up to him.

Highlights

By Kenya Sinclair (CALIFORNIA NETWORK)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
5/2/2016 (7 years ago)

Published in Living Faith

Keywords: Bishop Prasad Gallela, India, abducted, police

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Bishop Gallela concluded Mass at Karunagiri Shrine in southern India then headed home.

When the vehicles stopped, unidentified people stepped out and attacked.


UCA News repoted Bishop Gallela was blind-folded, handcuffed and abducted.

The Bishop did not know where he was taken, but said, "They hit me and punched me resulting in injuries all over my body. I did not resist."

As he was beaten, Bishop Gallela explained how the abductors demanded 5 million rupees ($75,325) and repeatedly asked him about the financial transactions of the diocese.


"When I asked who they were, they said they are from the police but police does [sic] not behave like this," the Bishop described. "They appeared to be paid goons and non-Christians from the way they talked and behaved."

Early the next day, Bishop Gallela was released roughly 55 miles from his diocese.

"Police are trying to find those behind the incident," the Bishop stated, then added, "I help so many people, I should help them too."

Archbishop Thumma Bala of Hyderabad described the incident as a "violent atrocity."

He continued, explaining the attack against "a high-ranking religious leader of a minority community, who is totally dedicated to the service of the needy and marginalized" was "unbelievable."

Though he was banged up, Bishop Gallela simply said, "Police are trying to find those behind the incident." Meanwhile, the Archbishop has appealed to legal authorities to investigate the abduction and produce the culprits.

---


'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'


Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Prayer of the Day logo
Saint of the Day logo

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.