Father Xavier Thelekkatt, 52, rector of the Malayattoor Kurishumudi church — an international pilgrim centre — was stabbed to death by the church sexton here on Thursday.
According to the police, the accused, Johny Vattekkadan, stabbed the priest on his left thigh before fleeing to the adjacent forests. The incident took place when he was returning from the church around noon.
“The accused waylaid the priest when he reached the sixth station and had an altercation with him Later, in a fit of rage he stabbed the priest and fled the spot,” the police said.
Under suspension
The rector had earlier suspended the accused from service citing moral turpitude. Though the priest was rushed to a private hospital in Angamaly, he was declared dead on arrival.
He had been working as the rector of the church since 2011. A member of the East Cheranallore parish in Perumbavoor under the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, Fr Xavier Thelekkat was ordained a priest in 1993.
The funeral is scheduled to commence at 10 a.m. at his residence at East Cheranallur on Saturday.
