Priest is prime suspect in kidnapping of Indian bishop
May 03, 2016
A Catholic priest is the prime suspect in the kidnapping and beating of a bishop in India
Police in Andra Pradesh, India, have arrested a priest and 13 others in connection with the kidnapping of Bishop Gallela Prasad of Kadapa. Police said that Father Raja Reddy, a priest of the Kadapa diocese, was the prime mover in the plot to kidnap his bishop.
The bishop was seized on April 25, blindfolded, and taken somewhere where he was robbed, beaten, and threatened with death unless he agreed to pay a heavy ransom. He was eventually released, left on a roadside, after agreeing to pay 2 million rupees (about $26,000).
Police now say that the place where Bishop Gallela was detained was a home run by Father Reddy, and the head of the gang that kidnapped him was the priest’s brother. Authorities said that several of those arrested had confessed, and reported that the kidnapping had been planned in advance, and previous attempts had been thwarted.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Andhra Pradesh: Priest among 14 arrested for bishop's kidnapping (AsiaNews)
- Indian bishop kidnapped, beaten (CWN, 5/2)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
