Masked Gang Robs Church, Assaults Priests in Jharkhand
12 masked men loot Rs 3 lakh from Simdega church.
In a shocking incident in Jharkhand’s Simdega district, approximately 12 masked men armed with sticks stormed Tumdegi Parish under Simdega Mufassil police station limits in the early hours of Wednesday, October 1, 2025. The assailants brutally attacked two Catholic priests, Father Thomas Soreng and Father Emmanuel Bagwar, before making off with over Rs 3 lakh in cash stored on the church premises.
According to Simdega Superintendent of Police (SP), the attack appears to be a robbery rather than a religiously motivated crime. "Prima facie, this is a case of loot. The miscreants targeted the cash kept in the church and not the institution for religious reasons," the SP stated during a press briefing. The official noted that Simdega is a predominantly Christian district, but the motive was purely financial.
The assailants reportedly tied the priests with ropes and beat them before fleeing with the money. Both priests sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at Simdega Sadar Hospital. The absence of CCTV cameras at the church has complicated the investigation, but the police are relying on intelligence sources to track down the culprits. "We are working diligently to identify and apprehend the perpetrators," the SP added.
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Simdega Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Baiju Oraon confirmed that a formal complaint has been filed against the unidentified attackers. Preliminary investigations estimate the stolen amount to exceed Rs 3 lakh. The police have intensified patrols and are questioning locals to gather leads.
This marks the second such attack on Catholic priests in Simdega within months. In June 2025, armed miscreants targeted St Teresa Church in Bolbo block, assaulting three priests and looting cash. The recurring nature of these incidents has raised concerns among the local community, with calls for enhanced security measures at religious institutions.
Authorities have assured swift action to bring the culprits to justice and prevent further incidents in the region.
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