Cardinal Baselios Cleemis landed in Kolkata this morning.
The Vatican conclave's youngest cardinal and India's top bishop was in West Bengal today to meet the 72-year-old nun who was raped last week in Ranaghat. In the evening, he also met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and expressed satisfaction about the case being handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
"We will ensure that justice is done and served... and is visible... miscreants are brought to appropriate action," His Eminence Baselios Cleemis said after his meeting with the nun. Even though the nun, he said, has forgiven her attacker, it was important to ensure justice in the case.
"We have nothing to do with the political parties in India... We see this incident in isolation," said the Cardinal, who had hit the headlines today for a reported comment that all citizens, not just cows, need protection.
The decision to entrust the case to the CBI came hours after the National Human Rights Commission issued a notice to the state government. In a tweet, the Chief Minister said she had done so I view of the "seriousness and sensitivity" of the matter.
There is outrage that four days after the incident, despite faces of the criminals being clearly visible on CCTV footage, not a single arrest has been made.
The rape, which took place during a robbery at a convent school, is the latest in a series of attacks on the Christian community. The members of the community allege that the BJP-led government has not done enough to protect them.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed "deep concern" and asked for a report on the incident. A heated debate on the issue took place in Parliament, in which the Mamata Banerjee government came under fire.
During the debate, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said the incident was condemnable and should not be politicized. But the BJP has demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the case.