Motive behind church attack remains mystery

Motive behind church attack remains mystery

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 5, 2011 : Speaking to reporters a day after the attack on St. Alphonsa Church in Kankandy, Fr. Lawrence Mukuzhy, the bishop of Belthangady, said that this is the first attack on the 23-year-old church, which serves around 250 families.

Stating that the attack of Nov 3 Thursday has hurt the feelings of devotees, he said that such attacks should not take place in any religious place. Appreciating the police for their support, he said that the motive of the accused still remains a mystery.

 

Fr. Sebastian Chelakkappally, the parish priest, was away when the incident happened and returned only on Friday morning. He said that Fr. Shibi Puthiyara, the assistant parish priest, was in the dining room with some students, when a stranger walked in. When Fr. Shibi asked him the reason for his visit, he rushed into the church hall and started damaging the crucifix and statue of Mother Mary. Then he went into the sacristy and tried to wear the priest’s robes. Fr. Shibi called some more people, and when the stranger emerged from the sacristy, he was wearing only a piece of white cloth kept near the altar.

He then tried to run away, but the local people stopped him. The assistant parish priest then noticed that the cupboard in the sacristy was open and that the holy vestments were thrown on the floor. A statue of Jesus was also damaged and the monstrance was hurled on the floor. The accused had thrown his footwear and clothes in the sacristy.

Fr. Sebastian said that nobody knows if the stranger entered the church hall before entering the dining room because a door of the church is always kept open. He said that Fr. Shibi then called the committee members who informed the police. The police immediately arrived on the scene and took the man away.

Fr. Sebastian then urged the government to take legal action against the accused. In response to a reporter’s query, he said that the only lady in the premises is a middle-aged cook.