Investigations to be expedited Fr Chittilappilly murder case

New Delhi, Oct 3 (UNI) Union Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension Suresh Pachouri today assured a delegation led by AICC Secretary Tom Vadakkan to expedite the ongoing investigation by the CBI into the alleged murder of Rev Fr Job Chittilappilly at Chalakudy in Kerala three years ago.

"Mr Pachouri has promised expeditious investigation," Mr Vadakkan told mediapersons after the meeting.

Mr Vadakkan presented to the minister a memorandum signed by Bishop James Pazhayattil, Diocese of Irinjalakuda.

"The Kerala church considers the murder of Fr Job as a sign of growing hostility of religious fanatics against Christians," the memorandum alleged, citing that "such an incident is the first of this sort in Kerala." Seventy-one-year-old Fr Job, who was the Vicar of Our Lady of Grace Church at Thuruthiparambu, near Chalakudy in the diocese of Irinjalakuda, was found murdered on the veranda of the presbytery in church compound with three deep wounds on September 28, 2004. The case was initially investigated by the local police before being handed over to the CBI.

UNI