Orissa priest who survived Hindu fundamentalist attack dies of injuries.

(Oct.29, 2008):- A Catholic priest, Fr. Bernard Digal, who was murderously attacked during the anti-Christian violence in India’s eastern State of Orissa, succumbed to injuries in a hospital on Tuesday evening. Fr. Digal, treasurer of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Archdiocese was attacked on Aug.24, the day when Hindu fanatics began the attack on Christians in Orissa. With his death, the toll in the seven week long attack touches 60.
On.Saturday, Oct 25, Fr. Digal was taken to St.Thomas Hospital in Chennai capital of Tamilnadu State with high fever. The doctors operated on him to remove a blood clot from his brain, caused by the attack he suffered on his head. On Monday, he slipped into a coma, with doctors reporting his condition was serious.
On Tuesday morning, the local Bishops gave him the anointing of the sick, and his own Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar visited him. “Fr. Bernard has been given the martyr’s crown” said Archbishop Cheenath, who was near the priest’s deathbed. “The Kandhamal Christians now have a powerful intercessor in Heaven. Fr. Bernard will now continue his work for our people from his heavenly home”, he told a news agency. Archbishop Cheenath said the funeral arrangements for Fr. Digal had to be finalised but he confirmed that the funeral would be held in Kandhamal.