Wounded priest recovers slightly

IMPHAL, February 3: The condition of Father Tommy Manjaly, principal of the Catholic School Canchipur, who was shot and wounded critically by some unidentified persons yesterday morning at the school premises, has improved a little. At present he is under the care of doctors of the Catholic Medical Centre, Koirengei, according to a source. The source said so far the Catholic Church leadership has not decided as to what steps they would be taking in connection with the assassination attempt on Father Manjaly. Meanwhile the staff and students of the Catholic School, Canchipur, strongly condemned the attempt on the life of Father Tommy Manjaly and appealed to the concerned armed organisations to explain the reason for the attack. A statement issued by the teaching staff of the Catholic School, Canchipur, said the school authority has no misunderstanding with any organisation nor received any warning. The only aim of the institution is to bring quality education irrespective of caste and creed, the statement said and described the attempt on the life of the school principal as an attempt to dismantled educational institutions. Pointing out that this is not the first incident that took place in then school, the statement said the killing of a person closely related to the management of such an institution would not bring any good towards social development. On the contrary, it said, such senseless act will only retrogress the society to the days of primitive savagery even though it is already in the 21st century. All rational minds should not allow such unwarranted acts to go on, it further said. The Holy Redeemer parishioners of Canchipur also strongly condemned the "barbarian" act. A statement issued by D Kansouwa, archdiocese pastoral council member, sincerely appealed to all the militant groups not to commit such "madman's act" in future.