The Neyyattinkara Latin Diocese has decided to persist with its agitation till the crosses that had been uprooted from the Bonacaud area are reinstalled. The diocese has also sought a Crime Branch investigation into the incident.
A press note issued by the Bishop’s House, Neyyattinkara, said the cross was installed 60 years ago at Bonacaud. The Kerala Forest Act had not come into effect at the time. As such the argument that the cross was installed in protected forest had no validity. Till now, the Kurisumala area was being seen as a seat of communal amity. The diocese strongly believed that the crosses were destroyed following intervention by certain communal forces.
The silver jubilee of the Kurisumala pilgrimage was celebrated last year. There was a surge in pilgrims to Kurisumala on the occasion. This had angered some sections. They had reached the area in March and May and publicly threatened to destroy the prayer facilities there. They destroyed the crosses with the complicity of the Forest Department officials. While the Forest Department officials launched steps to remove the crosses, the communal elements began to destroy the main cross at the altar. The Forest Department should clarify how the anti-socials who reportedly destroyed the crosses reached the Kurisumala area crossing the Forest check-post.
The press note said the diocese would take its agitation to the gates of the Secretariat. As a prelude to this, an action council with 1,001 members had been formed, it said.
