A Jesuit priest in Ranchi has been arrested for asking to remove the face scarf of a Muslim female student.

Father Ephraim Baa, who is in charge of the Intermediate Section of St. Xavier’s College in Ranchi has apologized for his “inadvertent” action.

The incident occurred on Jan. 7 during a student protest against the college’s decision to charge for additional hours of teaching for weak students.

Father Baa was trying to pacify the demonstrators who had blocked the college gate.

The priest wanted to ensure the girl, who was shouting, was “from our college since many outsiders join such demonstrations.” He said the girl ignored several requests to show her identity card.

“Then I pulled the scarf from her face without knowing she was a Muslim. Otherwise I would not have touched her scarf,” he said.

Muslims were outraged by pictures of the incident published in a local newspaper the next day.Thousands of Muslims took to the streets and burnt Father Baa’s effigy. Apologies from the college and Father Baa failed to pacify the mob that burnt tires and damaged vehicles.  read more »