10 cops injured as religious rally turns violent

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 13 (UNI) Ten police personnel, including a woman Sub-Inspector, were injured when a march organised by Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church faithfull turned violent here today.

Police said the incident occurred when the pro-Orthodox church activists tried to manhandle a Sub-Inspector and pelted stones at the force.

As the lathi charge proved ineffective to disperse the agitating believers and workers, the police bursted teargas shells four times and used water cannons to disperse them.

In the melee, many pro-Orthodox church activists sustained minor injuries.

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church had organised the march in protest against the government's decision to allow entry of Catholicos Baselios Thomas I and other metropolitans of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church into the disputed church at the Thrikkunnathu Seminary.

The agitators also damaged a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus, a car and glass panes of a bank.

Later the priests, who led the march, complained to the police that some miscreants pelted stones at them.

Though the Orthodox Diocese had called for a 12-hour hartal tomorrow to protest against the march, it was called off later following talks with top police officials, sources said.

UNI