Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 26: A Christian delegation led by anti-corruption activist T J Abraham, who is also the president of Indian Christian United Front (ICUF), on Saturday March 26 demanded the immediate arrest of the accused in the sensational murder of Fr K J Thomas and accused the Bengaluru city police of 'shielding' the accused.

In a press meet against the "alleged irresponsible, careless and injudicious attitude shown by the Bengaluru city police", Abraham said that despite the non-bailable warrants issued by the court, the police have failed to arrest the accused.

Fr K J Thomas

Abraham recalled that the late Fr K J Thomas was brutally murdered at the St Peter's Pontifical Seminary in Bengaluru on the night of March 31, 2013. "Three persons who were found guilty of the murder, were sent to jail in 2014 following the preliminary charge-sheet filed by the police. These jailed inmates had filed bail petitions in the court several times, but all the times the court has rejected their bail applications," he said.

"Subsequently, a 20,000 page, additional charge-sheet was filed in November 2015, which named Fr Anbu John, Fr A Thomas, Fr C Selvaraj, Fr I Anthappa, Raphael Raj, Rita Rini and Anthony Prasad. The court took cognizance of the same and issued non-bailable warrants against all these accused. However, till date no arrests have been by the police stating that the accused are absconding. I have proof that the police are shielding the accused and are conniving with them to evade the arrests," he alleged.

Abraham produced photographic evidence and video evidence that the accused "were not absconding but walking around freely", allegedly under the 'protection' of a minister in the present Karnataka government. He claimed that the "accused carrying a non-bailable warrant on their head, specially Fr A Thomas, Rita Rini, Rafael Raj and Anthony Prasad were seen moving freely, giving speeches and even making petitions to the minister during the funeral of one of the accused Fr Chasara on March 17 at St Joseph's Church at Bengaluru".

Abraham also produced a letter he received from the police to his query regarding the non-arrests, and claimed that the signing police officer had 'tampered' the date to prove a 'false point'. "All these actions by the police under the influence of the said cabinet minister is a deliberate technique to protect the accused, instead of arresting them, which amounts to contempt of court," Abraham said, adding, "The police and the government have made a mockery of the judiciary."

Speaking to reporters, Valerian Fernandes, former chairman of FKCA said, "This is a very serious matter of dereliction of duty from the police department, in a democratic and socialist system on which the very Preamble of the Indian Constitution is framed. The Christian minorities are pained by such insensitivity shown by the government to a slain priest. If this is the attitude of the government when there is a chargesheet filed and no arrests have been made on the non-bailable arrest warrants against the orders of the court, then one can imagine the fate of the common man who seeks justice from this government. What can the common man expect from such governance?"

Representatives from FKCA, Sarva Basha Catholic Association and Karnataka Christa Yuvakara Balaga were part of the delegation that took part in the press meet.