Coming on the heels of the attack on an Italian priest in Dinajpur on Wednesday, the news that several priests have been threatened with death is very alarming. Attack on Dr. Parolari was the second of its kind on a Christian padre. Evidently, these are acts to precipitate a situation in the country by marking out people of minority faiths as well as foreigners who present easy and soft targets. 

And we would not be remiss in suggesting that all these killings are linked and motivated, with a purpose. Apart from making these groups feel vulnerable and unsafe, targeting the priests is being done to destroy the very texture of the society that is woven on inclusive, syncretic and secular fabric. 

We understand that with regard to the attack on Dr. Parolari, several people have been arrested as have been a few in the cases of killing of the two foreigners and attack on a local priest. But that is not enough. These cases do not admit of any delay, because it is essential to not only bring the perpetrators to justice, it is equally important to identify and nab the masterminds behind these killings, attacks and threats. 

And equally importantly, while it is the government's duty to nab the perpetrators, the society must come together and get behind our brethren of the minority faiths and those foreigners that have devoted their lives to the marginalised and poor people of this country, far away from their own home; only then can we hope to put an end to the nefarious designs of the dogmatists. We cannot and will not allow the bigots to dictate our lives.