Two Church properties found vandalised

Aluva Sep 21: Two Church properties were allegedly attacked by some miscreants at Akaparambu close to the Nedumbaserry International Airport, near Kochi, on Saturday, Sep 20.

Though the local police said that a mentally challenged person belonging of the same community had been taken into custody in connection with the incident, the Kerala Government has taken a serious view of the incident and ordered a probe by a special investigation team (SIT).

State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who visited the spot, told mediapersons that the government would not allow mischief makers to disrupt the communal harmony in the state.

A Special Investigation Team, headed by Dy.SP P N Unnirajan has been set up to probe the incident, he said.

Local police said investigation was going on with finger print experts and all possibilities, including robbery, were being probed.

The window panes of a Jacobite Church at Akaparambu were found smashed this morning. The sandalwood cot of one of the saints is preserved there.

The statue of Jesus, at a nearby cemetery of the Roman Catholic church, was also found damaged.

Reacting to the incident, Bishop Thomas Chakiyath and Metropolitan Elias Mar Athanios of the Jacobite Church described it as a ''well planned attack'' and sought strict action by the government to prevent such incidents.

Police however rejected any communal angle to the incident.

Sources told UNI that the attack was suspected to be the handiwork of some anti-social elements, with a view to disrupt the communal harmony in the area.

Meanwhile, a peace meeting was convened by the local people and the situation was now under control, police said.

UNI