Kochi: Two groups were involved in a fierce clash over a church in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. A case has been registered against 22 people, including priests, in connection with the incident.
About 18.4 percent of Kerala’s population are Christians. Various Christian denominations operate in the state. Clashes between these churches occur from time to time. In Pramadam, Ernakulam district of Kerala, there is St. John’s Bethlehem Church. The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church have been claiming ownership of this church.
At present, the church is under the control of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church. A morning service was being held there last Sunday. At that time, priests and administrators from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church suddenly entered the church and tried to conduct a separate service. This was stopped by the Jacobite Church administrators.
A major clash broke out between the two sides. The priests also joined the fight. Some people were seriously injured in the incident. After being informed, police from the Ramamangalam area rushed to the church and separated both sides.
In this connection, a case has been registered against 12 people from that church, including priest Abin Abraham of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. A case has also been registered against 10 people from the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, including priest Lalmon Thambi.
Regarding this, the police said, “Based on video evidence, cases have been registered against 22 people involved in the attack inside the church. We are actively searching for them. All of them will be arrested soon,” they said.
