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`Orthodox church faction being denied prayer facilities'

By Our Staff Reporter

THRISSUR FEB. 25. The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church believers were being denied facilities for prayer and other religious rites at the Mandhamangalam St. Mary's Orthodox Church in the district for the last two months, according to the ousted church priest, Fr. Paulose Vakkanapadathil.

Addressing a press conference here today, Fr. Vakkanapadathil and others alleged that a group of persons had organised a meeting without the knowledge of the church priest and trustee last December. "

The Thrissur RDO, who came to solve the issue, had threatened the trustee and handed over the key to the leader of the group that had encroached into the church. The priest was stopped from conducting the church affairs.''

They said that the Government had fixed the time for prayer and for performing other religious rites for their faction on every Sunday from 6 to 8 a.m.

"But this arrangement which the Government had promised would continue for three months was not followed in the case of Madhamangalam church. We could perform rites only for three weeks in this church. Though we were going to the church every Sunday, the police had not allowed us to enter Church and perform rites.''

They alleged that RDO, Marykutty, had acted in favour of the opposite faction instead of acting impartially.

They said though they had approached political leaders, including the local MLA, P.P. George, they did not help them.

"Hence, we are forced to start agitations including fast and dharna like the earlier dharna held before an MLA's camp office. The Government were denying us justice just like they had led the tribals to armed struggle at Muthanga. We are requesting the Government and the RDO not to force us to take to streets,'' they said.

The Malankara Church managing committee member, Fr. Mathew Jacob Puthussery, Fr. Baby Paul Pookunnel, committee member, P.M. Geevarghese and V.A. George were present at the press conference.

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