KOCHI: Following a two-day long coordinated effort by
Ernakulam administration
and rural police, Marthoman
Church
at Mulanthuruthy was taken over by the administration at 5am on Monday. Later at 10.30am, district administration took over Onakkoor Sehion Church near Piravom. The early morning exercise was executed after meticulous planning considering the pandemic situation, said police sources.
Rural police sealed off Mulanthuruthy town late by Sunday night to avoid more gatherings at church premises. At the same time, those who were already inside the church since Friday, conducting prayers as a mode of protest, were allowed to stay. A force of 300 policemen reached the spot on Monday morning. To avoid, intermingling of the reserve force, they were asked to stay ready near their vehicles.
“As many as 100 personnel were on the field and 50 were clad in PPE kits. 20 of them were women. They were able to clear the crowd within 30 minutes so that court order could be executed,” said an officer.
As gates of the church were locked, police broke open the locks to gain access to the church compound. “There was no lathicharge and no one was injured. After evicting them, we told them to go home, instead of recording their arrest. However, some insisted that they be arrested. Around 65 such persons were arrested and immediately let off on bail,” said an officer, adding that people cooperated at Onakkoor and 22 persons were arrested there. However, Jacobite faction alleged police excess as bishops, priests and the faithful were dragged away from the spot. Jacobite faction at
Kothamangalam Valiyapally
hoisted a black flag on the church’s flagpole to register protest and it also faced severe criticism by Jacobite faction members on social media.
Media cell chairman of Jacobite faction Kuriakose Mar Theophilose said in a statement that police made use of Covid restrictions to seize the church. “We begged for time till 10am when high court was set to consider the issue, but the RDO and police officials did not listen. In the melee, several people including two metropolitans and a child sustained injuries. Five metropolitans were arrested,” he said.
Police said the churches were locked and keys were handed over to district administrations.