Three masked men shoot Indian pastor; injuries not life threatening

(June 30, 2010) Three masked men shot and wounded a Catholic priest in Mokama in Bihar state on June 28. A motive for the attack was unclear, reported the UCA News Agency. Father Michael Ignatius, pastor of the parish in Mokama, was shot four times in his hands while trying to shield himself from a hail of bullets. Although the priest's hands were shattered, the injuries were not considered life threatening. He was rushed by police escort to Kurji Holy Family Hospital about 55 miles away in the city of Patna. Father Ignatius said he was watching television in his residence when the attack occurred. The men entered his unlocked room, fired at him and left. As he fell to the ground and called for help, the trio of gunmen returned and fired again. He claimed they were aiming for his chest, but he blocked the bullets with his hands. Father Alex Vedamackiam, assistant pastor, was in his room at the time and was unharmed. The watchman at the residence told police he recognized one of the alleged attackers, a local Catholic, who fled the scene. Police took the alleged attacker's younger brother into custody. Police ruled out robbery as a motive for the attack because the watchman's cell phone was the only thing reported stolen.