Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady(VA)

Beltangady, Nov 20: Fr James Mukalel(38)'s death on the night of July 29, 2009 in a suspicious manner at Kuntady in Thotatthady village here has now invited CBI  investigations.

The CBI team has visited the place where the incident took place and has gathered some witnesses from the locals. They also visited Mangalore to collect some more details from the police regarding the Father's death. The CBI team has five members. A senior officer, answering a query by a media person regarding the case said that since the CBI has just started the investigations nothing can be said until the instigation is complete, he said. He did not reveal much information on the CBI team members.

The Mysterious Death

Fr James was serving as a parish priest of Kutrupady St Mary's Church, near Kadaba. He had visited Charmadi's Muddhudi for a funeral. Around 9.30 on the same day he had left the place saying that he would go to Kadaba. But on the next day he was found dead near his bike. It looked as if someone had murdered him and thrown him there.

Fr James is basically from Kerala. From 1999 he was serving in Beltangady diocese.