Jalandhar, Oct 22: Senior priest Father Kuriakose Kattuthara who had testified against former Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal accused of raping a nun, has been found dead on October 22 morning.
The exact cause of death isn’t known and more details will be revealed after the post-mortem. He was found dead in his room in a church at Bhogpur in Jalandhar
His family said they suspect foul play.
His brother Jose Kattuthara told local news channels that church authorities from Jalandhar called him this morning and informed him that he was found dead in his room which was locked from inside. Church officials reportedly told the priest’s brother that he possibly died of a heart attack.
But Jose Kattuthara remains suspicious. He said he would be filing a complaint and will move the Kerala high court to cancel Franco Mulakkal’s bail.
Kuriakose’s brother Jose Kattuthara alleged that his brother has been killed for giving statement against Franco Mulakkal. Fr Kuriakose had been frequently threatened by the church officials. He also revealed that Fr Kuriakose had said that his life was under threat
Fr Kuriakose had filed a complaint against Franco Mulakkal in the nun abuse case. Fr Kuriakose had said in an interview given to news reporters that he was tortured by the Bishop and the Bishop House officials for his stand.
Fr Kuriakose had said that the nuns had told several complaints about Franco to him, who was also a vocational trainer. He had worked with former bishop Symphorian Keeprath, who had established Missionaries of Jesus for nuns under the diocese. He was a native of Pallippuram in Alappuzha.
Bishop Mulakkal was arrested late September and spent three weeks in jail before he got bail earlier this month.