An office-bearer of parish priest, attached to Arulanandar Church in Oriyur, allegedly committed self-immolation after a dispute with the church authorities in celebrating the 10-day long annual ‘Arokkiya Annai’ birth anniversary, which began with flag hoisting on August 29.
Police said that Charles (55) of Pullur, who had a dispute with the church authorities over carrying of the flag for the flag-hoisting ceremony, poured kerosene on his body and committed self-immolation behind the church late Monday evening.
Police said that he died on the spot and his charred body was brought to the District Headquarters Hospital here for post-mortem. The deceased was one of the members of the ‘Pangu peravai’ in the Church, which came under the purview of Sivaganga diocese.
After he was denied permission to carry the flag in a procession on Saturday, Charles demanded that the car festival on Monday should not be held. When the priest went ahead with the procession stating he could not stop the traditional procession, he committed self- immolation in protest, police added.
When contacted, Superintendent of Police N.M. Mylvahanan said that sufficient police picketing had been posted in the village and the situation was under control.
