Thiruvananthapuram: The Latin Catholic Church has deferred their proposed strike for
Tuesday after the Kerala government assured the clergy that the believers’ freedom to
worship at Kurisumala, a controversial pilgrimage center, will be protected.
The decision comes after archbishop M Soosa Pakiam held talks with forest minister K Raju.
The minister has reportedly assured the archbishop that limited number of pilgrims would be
allowed to enter Kurisumla, which witnessed violent protests Friday after the police tried to
block people’s entry. The Church had earlier planned to hold protests Tuesday after the
faithful were injured in the police action. However, it was learned that the government would
not allow construction activities in the ecologically sensitive area.
Eight people, including three police personnel, injured after a march by the faithful to the
‘Kurisumala’ (Mount of the Cross) in nearby Bonacaud turned violent leading to lathicharge.
Priests and the faithful under the Neyyantinkara Latin Catholic Diocese took out the
procession to install a new holy cross in the place of one which got damaged a few months
ago. After which the entry to the Kurisumala was barred.
The faithful visit Kurisumala on the first Friday of every new year.
The wooden cross was found destroyed in November last year under mysterious
circumstances.