Thiruvananthapuram: Catholicos Baselios Thomas I, the head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian churches and 70 others broke open the locks of the Aluva Thrikunnathu Seminary and offered prayers on Monday early morning. The police arrested them for violating the high court order and was later released on bail.
This seminary and the St Mary's Church building have been under ownership disputes between the Indian (Malankara) Orthodox and Jacobite Syrian Christian churches and has been closed since 1977.
To maintain the law and order situation the district administration is in charge of the church and based on High court order every year on January 25 and 26 the church is opened for both sections at prescribed times.
On Saturday around 3.30 am about 70 people including women and about three bishops entered the seminary and offer their prayers. The police had to arrest and move them out of the church.
There were allegations that the police manhandled the Jacobites, but the district police Chief Satheeesh Bino said that anticipating such allegations they have video graphed the entire procedure and considering that Catholicos Baselios Thomas I is 86 years old, they have arranged for an ambulance and shifted him directly to the hospital.
District collector PI Shaik Pareeth said that he is assessing the situation as there are chances for tension between the two sides and if needed 144 will be declared in the area. The police stated that at present they are in control of the situation.
Meanwhile, a priest of the orthodox section was assaulted and he has been admitted to the hospital. The district police chief said that after recording his statement a case will be registered against those who assaulted him.
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