Ernakulum: BJP Kerala State Secretary MT Ramesh has strongly condemned the attack on the priest in Poonjar, Kottayam district, and called for severe action regarding this issue. MT Ramesh made these remarks yesterday while addressing the NDA’s Kerala Padayatra campaign programme at Kochi. He questioned Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Kerala opposition leader VD Satheeshan for their silence on this matter.
MT Ramesh also expressed the BJP’s full support for Fr. Attuchalil Joseph, Assistant Vicar of St. Mary’s Forane Church, Poonjar, who was attacked by youths from Erattupetta.
Ramesh criticized Kerala’s law and order situation, highlighting the seriousness of the incident. He added that the Kerala CM seems afraid to take severe action against the attackers of the church priest and has failed to address the issue of anti-social elements effectively.
Ramesh urged an investigation into the motives behind the attack and emphasized the need for clarity on whether the attackers intended to create communal tension in Kerala.
The priest Fr. Attuchalil Joseph was assaulted by youths who entered into the churchyard and disrupted the church proceedings. The priest confronted the young men who rode their bikes on the church premises creating disturbance. He asked them to leave the premises, however the youth became violent and hit the priest with their bikes. Following this, Fr. Attuchalil Joseph had to be rushed to a private hospital in Pala for treatment.
The attack occurred when a group of young men from outside the parish entered the churchyard with around eight cars and five bikes. They engaged in reckless behaviour, including staging a bike race, while the prayer service was in progress.
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