Citing ‘missing links’ in the breakthrough in investigations, rights group Nyayakagi Naavu has demanded a fresh probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the murder of Fr. K.J. Thomas, the 62-year-old rector of the St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Malleswaram last year.
Questioning the three arrests made, i.e., of priests Iliyas Daniel and William Patrick and the latter’s assistant Peter, writer and activist Indudhara Honnapura, at a press conference here on Tuesday, alleged that the investigations were not conducted in a scientific manner.
The former chairperson of the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission and legal adviser to Nyakkagi Naavu C.S. Dwarakanath said the arrests appeared to be the result of a power struggle between two linguistic factions.
The activists threatened to launch an agitation if a CBI probe was not ordered into the case.
Meanwhile, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Pronab Mohanty said they “have solid evidence against the accused”.
Mr. Mohanty said he was confident of the investigations carried out by the police so far and added that accused would remain the same even if CBI investigates the case.
