Attack on vicar: three remanded

The Mavelikara Judicial Magistrate Court on Monday remanded three persons accused of vandalising a building owned by the St. Gregorios Orthodox Church at Karimulackal, near Charumoodu, in judicial custody.

The accused, Arunkumar, a native of Karimulackal, Sanilraj and Sunu, hailing from Thamarakulam, allegedly attacked the church vicar and vandalised a building adjacent to the church.

The police said the incident occurred early Sunday morning. The accused first attacked the vicar M.K. Varghese Corepiscopa when he arrived at the church for midnight prayers. Later they threw stones and damaged the windowpanes of a building. The police added that there had been a dispute over the church’s move to construct a cemetery in the area. Meanwhile, the CPI (M) has blamed the attack on the RSS and BJP. However the BJP district leadership has denied any role in the incident.