After the ‘Way of the Cross’ yatra by believers of the Neyyattinkara Latin Catholic Diocese ended in violence on Friday morning, Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala tried to broker peace. But his suggestion to allow 50 believers to visit Kurishumala at a time did not find favour with the authorities.
Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) president and Archbishop of the Thiruvananthapuram Archdiocese of the Latin Catholic Church Soosa Pakiam M. said that the police action against the believers, including priests, who took out a procession to Kurishumala, was cruel and condemnable. An investigation should be conducted into the incident and action taken against the police officers responsible, he said.
He said that the happenings in recent times at Bonacaud, including the destruction of the cross, was part of attempts by antisocial elements to destroy the religious amity in the State. Though the Chief Minister had taken a stand favourable to the diocese leadership, the Forest Department and the police were adopting a different line.
No support to land grab
The diocese did not support land encroachment or violence, but it could not support the moves to end the prayers that the believers had been holding at Kurishumala for long. The freedom of religious belief enshrined in the Constitution should be protected, he said.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president M.M. Hassan condemned the police lathicharge on the believers who took part in the procession. The government’s action, which undermined religious freedom, was unacceptable. The happenings gave credence to the doubts whether the cross installed at Kurishumala was destroyed with government’s knowledge.
