Rector murder: Ooty priests appeal to Karnataka minister

Plead that language issue should not scuttle the investigation

Bangalore:  The controversy over the murder of a seminary rector got an added dimension when 19 priests of his Ooty diocese urged Karnataka state to ensure that a language issue "is not allowed to scuttle the investigation."

The priests of Ooty parishes sent a signed letter to Karnataka Home Minister K J George expressing disappointment over "attempts by some priests/people to derail the whole matter by bringing in the language issue," daijiworld.com reported.

The letter comes after some people, who support Kannada language, alleged a conspiracy involving Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore in arresting two priests in connection with the murder of Fr K J Thomas, the then Rector of the St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore.

Police arrested the suspects last month following a year-long investigation after the bludgeoned body of the priest was found in the seminary building on April 1 last year.

The parish priests have also sent of copies of the letter to Apostolic Nuncio Salvatore Pennacchio in New Delhi, Bishop A Amalraj of Ooty and to archbishop of Bangalore.

Father Thomas, who was 62 when murdered, was born in Kerala but was ordained a priest of Ooty diocese. He served the Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore in different capacities and was chosen as its rector for the seconda year before his death.

He was widely respected for his priestly qualities, especially by Church officials and seminarians in the three states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka .

The letter of Ooty parish priests said they were ''shell-shocked" to hear that such a priest was murdered and is "anxious at the slow progress of the investigation."?

''But now we look forward to hopefully that you would proceed to render justice to Fr K J, his kith and kin, and to us his friends by pursuing without any let up, the investigation and bring the culprits to book whoever they may be," the letter said.?

''We are saddened to note that some priests/people in Bangalore are attempting to derail the whole matter by bringing in language issue. No Sir, please let not any issue to scuttle the investigation process and the course of justice," the priests appealed.

They also expressed their full confidence in the Minister that ''you would ensure that the culprits, however, mighty/influential/powerful/connected, are brought to book and are made to meet with the ends of justice."?

Source: daijiworld