ASIA/INDIA - Sister killed for her missionary work among the tribal people, "a true disciple of Christ", abandoned by the civil authorities

Dumka (Agenzia Fides) – She was one of the many religious from Kerala (a state in South India, thriving in vocations) scattered in India and the world as missionaries: Sr.Valsha John, 53, of the "Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary ", was killed on the night of November 15 at her home, in circumstances that remain unclear, in the village of Pachwara, Pakur district in the state of Jharhkand (northern India). The nun had been carrying out her pastoral work for 20 years, especially among the poor, the marginalized, the tribal people in the district of Pakur in the territory of the Diocese of Dumka. This morning, inform local sources of Fides, the funerals were held in the Cathedral of Dumka, in the presence of more than 700 faithful, including priests, religious, laity and tribal people from Jharhkand and Kerala. The principal celebrant the Jesuit Father Varkey Chenna, recalled "the discipleship and mission of the Sister", saying: "she gave her life for Christ, as a true disciple. She is an example to us all: her testimony is an invitation to follow Jesus Christ as true disciples".
Fr. Nirmal Raj SJ, Provincial of the Jesuits in Dumka - many of whom knew and shared the commitment of Sister Valsa - told Fides: "Sister Valsha lived with the poor, gave her Christian testimony, and she preached the gospel, sharing their hardships and difficulties. She was close to the most marginalized tribal communities, santhal ethnic groups in the district of Pakur. She was mainly committed to defending indigenous people from the alienation of their land, carried out by the mining companies to extract coal. She paid this effort with her life. We trust in the investigators and, simultaneously, we are ready to continue her mission".
As reported by local sources of Fides, two assumptions are followed in the investigation, the search for the guilty: the criminal organizations that support the exploitation of the tribal people and the business of mining companies (who may have seen in the religious woman an obstacle to their plans); that of groups within the indigenous communities themselves, who are divided between those in favor and contrary to an agreement signed between the parties, that the nun had helped to promote.
According to a statement sent to Fides by the "Global Council of Indian Christians" (GCIC), "the nun had been repeatedly threatened by criminals who had warned her not to oppose the work of companies like Panem Limited, and had also alerted the competent authorities of the threats. But state authorities, who belong to Hindu nationalist parties, ignored her requests for help, leaving her without protection". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 17/11/2011)