Mangalore: Death of Priest under Suspicious Circumstances: Delegation secures IGP's Assurance
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Jul 31: A delegation comprising of former MP Vinaykumar Sorake, MLA U T Khader, district Congress vice president Ivan D'Souza, public relations officer of Mangalore diocese Marcel Monteiro etc., met inspector general of police (IGP) of western range, Gopal Hosur, here on Thursday July 30 and urged him to take up investigation of the death of Fr James, a Catholic priest, in Totattady on Thursday.
It may be recalled, that the nude body of Fr James Mukalel had been found lying a little away from his motor bike on a deserted road in Totattady village near Beltangady on Thursday July 30 morning. After attending the funeral rites of a man named Mathai at Muddudi in Charmadi, he had visited the homes of a few ailing persons, before finishing dinner at Charmady convent and starting back to Kadaba from there.
The body was found lying at around 7 am on Thursday near the home of a man named Joseph. The body was found stripped, and the pants of the priest were found on the motor bike, while his gown was in the side box of the motor bike. The underwear of the priest was hanging from the foot rest of the bike. The body was lying face up by the side of the motor bike and looked as if someone had abandoned the body after murdering the priest. The motor bike that had been parked, seemed to have fallen off because of wet and loose mud.
The people living by the side of the spot where the incident occurred, said they did not get to know of the incident till Thursday morning. It is not yet known as to why the priest took this route to Kadaba while returning from Charmadi, which is nearly five kilometres off the Kadaba road. Chances of taking a mistaken road are ruled out, as he knows the area well, as he had worked in this region for about three years.
Immediately after the incident came to light, various rumours started spreading like wild fire in the district. Circle inspector Y Gangireddy and sub inspector Subbapooramutt visited the site.
The priest, son of Sebastian and Rosamma from Velladu village of Kannur district, is survived by two brothers. After being ordained into religious service in 1997, he served Dharmastala Ujire from 2000 to 2002, Tattattady Kanjal from 2003 to 2006 and Kaalenja Bhatyl from 2006-07. He had been serving Kutruppady and Padavu churches as a priest since then.
Beltangady Bishop Dr Lawrence Mukkuzhi has expressed grief at the death of the priest. The committee of priests and parish council also has mourned his death.
The IGP has assured the delegation that a special squad would be formed to investigate the case to get to the root of the incident and punish the guilty, informed Ivan D'Souza.
Earlier Update:
Beltangady: Catholic Priest Murdered in Tottattady Village
Report: T S Thomas
Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, Jul 30: A Catholic priest was found murdered in a remote place by the side of a road in a village near here on Thursday July 30.
The Belthangady diocesan priest, Fr James Mukalel, 39, met with tragic death when he was returning to his parish, after attending a funeral of one of his earlier parishioners in Thottathady village, near here.
According to Fr Thomas Kannankal, the diocesan social work director, the death of the priest appears to be a clear case of murder, as his body was found to be lying away from the motor bike which he was riding, and there were no clothes on his body.
He added that the body did not bear any injury marks but there were telltale signs that point to the fact that he was suffocated to death by someone.
Father James was originally from the diocese of Tellichery and had opted to work in Beltangady diocese.
Father Jose Valiaparambil, the vicar general of the diocese, said that the entire diocese is shocked to learn about this gory incident that has occurred at a time when the Syro-Malabar diocese is preparing for its mission congress from August 3.
Father Thomas told UCA News, that the priest serves in Kutrapady parish and had gone to Thottathady parish to attend a funeral. After the funeral, he visited some homes and had his dinner in a convent in the parish. He started back in his motor bike at around 9 pm on Wednesday.
Some parishioners noticed his naked body lying by the roadside, at around 7 am on Thursday July 30 morning.
Police investigations are on.