Convent school attacked in Kolhapur

The vandals damaged furniture, computers and windows of the Holy Cross High School for girls.

File photo.

Kolhapur:  Suspected right-wing Hindu activists vandalized the office of a convent school in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur town Jan. 22 afternoon.

The vandals damaged furniture, computers and windows of the Holy Cross High School for girls in what is reported to be a cowardly act against the nuns.

Kolhapur police have arrested two people, and 18 absconding, media reports said quoting Superintendent of Police Abhinav Deshmukh.

Some 20 activists forcibly entered the campus shouting slogans against the school management and ransacked the office, said school headmistress Sister Bharati.

They complained about a building fee the school charged and started abusing her and the staff members. They also refused requests for a discussion on the issues raised but started breaking the office furniture and glasses of the windows, the nun said.

The school management declared the school closed until the vandals are arrested.

Bishop Thomas Dabre of Pune deplored the incident saying “this was not the way to settle the issues in a civilized society.”

He offered the support of the diocese and assured to take up the matter with higher officials after discussion with the nuns.

Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore also condemned vandalism and said the attack on the Christian institution was certainly a deep cause for concern.

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