india

Updated: Jun 21, 2016 14:39 IST



A 55-year-old Catholic priest was injured when an unidentified man attacked him with a machete in north-central Assam’s Udalguri district on Sunday night.

Sushil John Soren, the pastor of Bhairabkunda parish under the Tezpur diocese, was brought here to a private hospital where he underwent a surgery for injuries to his hands. He was stable and recovering, the hospital authorities said Tuesday.

Soren was assaulted at around 9pm when he was returning home after conducting night prayers at the parish’s boys hostel, reports said.

“A stranger followed him for some time and attacked Father Soren with a machete. He ducked to save his head but received serious wounds on both hands,” Bishop Michael Akasius Toppo said.

The attacker fled when hostel boys and parish staff rushed out to help Soren on hearing his cries, he said.

This is the second incident of violence in the area, which borders Bhutan, in four days.

On June 15, two workers of Bhooteachang tea estate were killed for allegedly stealing from a local tribal council member. The tea plantation is around 12km from the Bhairabkunda parish.

The state commission for minorities has sought a report from the deputy commissioner. “The report can help us find the motive behind the attack and prevent people from jumping to conclusions,” commission member Allen Brooks told HT.