Beltangady: Death of Fr Mukalel: Mysterious Delay in receiving Post Mortem Report
Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Aug 13: The cause of death of Fr James Mukalel (38), priest of Kutruppady Church, whose naked body was found lying by the side of his motor bike at Kundady in Totattady near here on July 30 this year, remains a mystery. While rumours have been flying thick and thin, no efforts are being made to throw light on the actual cause of his death. The police department too, after saying that it has almost solved the mystery and that the officers were awaiting the receipt of the post mortem report, has fallen silent thereafter.

The death of Fr Mukalel has given rise to various rumours, as a result of the delay. Initially, it was thought to be a case of accident, but later, the people deemed it to be a case of murder relating to illicit relationship. Some also said, the priest had suffered cardiac arrest and some attributed it to a property dispute at his native place in Kerala. In the meantime, there are rumours which say that he had consumed some pill before the incident.

Post mortem examination of  Fr Mukalel's body was conducted both at Mangalore and in Kerala. But the policemen claim, they have not received any of these reports. Does preparation of post report take so much time, many people have been asking. There are several others, who question as to why the local Bishop has not been actively following up the case, after initially saying that memorandums had been submitted to the Chief Minister and the top brass in the police department. A suspicion that a certain lobby has been working from behind the scenes, to give a decent burial to the case, is gaining ground.

The people hope that the death of the priest, which received wide coverage even in the national media, would be solved soon. They feel that the post mortem report, which is overdue, will bring out the truth soon.

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