The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Ban orders imposed at Thrikunnathu Seminary

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Ban orders imposed at Thrikunnathu Seminary

Staff Reporter

Jacobite Church appeals for status quo

KOCHI: The Ernakulam district magistrate clamped prohibitory orders on one kilometre radius of the Thrikunnathu Seminary at Aluva on Tuesday.

Thirteen persons, including three priests, were injured after the police resorted to a lathicharge to break up a large group that had assembled at the seminary at about midnight on Monday to offer prayers.

Taking out processions within a kilometre of the seminary has also been banned. The prohibitory order also bans public speeches, demonstrations and meetings in the area for one month.

Any unlawful assembly, loitering in groups and entering the seminary, church, cemetery and its compound has also been prohibited.

The area remained peaceful on Tuesday and no untoward incident was reported, the police said.

Jacobite Church appeal

Baselius Thomas I, Catholicos of the Jacobite Syrian Church, has demanded that status quo be maintained on the rights over the Thrikkunnathu seminary, the St. Mary's church and cemetery and other Church institutions at Aluva, near here.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, the Catholicos criticised the State Government for the failure to keep its assurances on maintaining status quo. He said the Government should "respect the sentiments of the people" on the issue and accused it of favouring the Orthodox faction.

The current bout of trouble appears to have been triggered by the removal of Fr. Jacob Mannaraprayil corepiscopa from the charge of manager of the seminary (by head of the Orthodox Church) on Sunday.

However, a spokesman of the Jacobite Church, Varghese Kallappara, said the issue of status quo had nothing to do with Fr. Mannaraprayil's removal from office.

The Catholicos warned that if the Government did not respect the sentiments of the people they would be "forced to act." He appealed to the faithful to be alert on the issue of the unity and integrity of the Church.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News Update

Stories in this Section

Cultural festival planned for Onam

West Kochi residents to wait out monsoon

Steps on to develop roads and drains

Wish of a story-teller

Former Dy.SP's bail plea dismissed

Ban orders imposed at Thrikunnathu Seminary

Ban on foreign trawlers sought

Action sought against Principal

A sign of illness

A safety net for the poor

One arrested on burglary charge

Trial by the media

MLAs' meet to discuss water distribution

Encounter with a difference

In Kochi Today