Mumbai: A young Catholic priest was found dead in his room in a parish under Kalyan Syro-Malabar diocese, western India.
The body of Father John Koovakunnel was discovered early morning on October 2 by his parishioners when they came for Mass at St Antony’s Church in Khopoli, near Panvel in Raigadh district.
When the 29-year-old priest failed to turn up for Sunday Mass, the people opened his bed room with permission from the diocesan authorities.
The motive is unknown but police suspect it to be suicide.
According to the Khopoli police, the priest was found hanging from the ceiling fan of his room around 8 am. No suicide note was found in the room, which was locked from inside.
According to a report in The Indian Express police said Father Koovakunnel’s parents say they have no idea as to what could have prompted him to take the extreme step.
A spokesperson for Kalyan diocese said, “We have requested the authorities concerned for a detailed inquiry to find out the cause of death.”
Fr Koovakunnel had been at the church for the past-year-and-half years.
Fr Koovakunnel was born and brought up in Pune, the cultural capital of Maharashtra state. His roots are in Pathanamthitta in Kerala, according a Malayalam newspaper.
The funeral rites are scheduled for October 4 at St Alphonsa Church in Kalewadi in Pune. Bishop Thomas Elavanal of Kalyan will lead the services.