Police headquartered in Telangana have apprehended nine people allegedly responsible for assaulting St. Mother Teresa English Medium School on April 16.
Groups from different parts of India have decried the attack, which involved an assault on a priest and damage to the school in Mancherial district.
The perpetrators accused the school heads of religious insensitivity by questioning some students who entered the class in religious outfits instead of school uniforms.
The attackers hurled stones at the school's statue of St. Mother Teresa. They also damaged the school's security office.
Then they proceeded to destroy the school's gate and break glass windows, flower pots, and an office room.
On April 18, Bishop Prince Antony Panengaden of Adilabad diocese requested that authorities ensure everyone's safety and take action to hold perpetrators accountable.
Panengaden noted that the situation was now under control.
“We are doing everything possible," he said. " Using aggressive methods may not be wise in such situations."
The bishop pointed out that the attack was motivated by religious belief.
The federation of churches in Telangana has denounced the attack, saying it was a "despicable act."
In a statement, the federation said it “condemns with great sorrow and deep concern” the attack by an “unruly mob shouting, ‘Jai Shree Ram’ (Hail, Lord Ram).”
The attacker assaulted a priest and chased out the teaching staff and nuns. Then they took control of the school.
The archdiocesan protection council and laity in Kerala have decried the attack.
In a statement, the protection committee denounced the lies about the assault on the priest while the police stood as mute witnesses.
“This is happening in India, which is ruled by a political party that promises to protect the country’s secular credentials while letting loose its members to attack minority groups,” the statement said.
The laity front was worried that the Christian phobia in northern Indian states was now crawling to the south.
“This is a continuation of widespread violence against Christians in the country,” the statement said.
The front has also pressed on the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Conference, and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India for immediate intervention.
They also cautioned that the indifference of political parties to the incident could put India’s democracy and secularism in danger.
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