By Matters India Reporter

Shirva, Nov 2, 2019: Assurance from their bishop on November 2 prompted some Catholics to call of their protest demanding a probe into the alleged suicide of a priest.

Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo of Udupi has promised to meet the protesters at 10 am on November 3 in their Our Lady of Health Church in Shirva, some 20 km south of the diocesan headquarters.

The parishioners launched the protests suspecting foul play in Father Mahesh D’Souza’s death.

The 36-year-old was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his room in Shirva on October 12.

Sunil Kabral, a leader of the protesters, said local parish priest Father Dennis D’Sa and police officers have requested them to meet the bishop in the parish on November 3. “So, we have dispersed from the church premises,” he told reporters.

Tight security has been provided at the church premises, reports daijiworld.com.

The protesters demanded to know why a first information report has not been filed yet.

Mahesh Prasad, Karkala circle inspector, explained that it will take 60 days from the time of incident as autopsy report is yet to be received.

The police tried to convince the parishioners and said that a 10-member committee of police and church authority will have a discussion on October 3. But the protesting parishioners did not agree.

Samapath Kumar, in-charge circle inspector, Karkala, Nazeer Hussain from Karkala police station and others police personnel undertook tight security measures to control the situation.

Father D’Sa, accompanied by police personnel, later spoke to the parishioners. He said that he too wanted justice to be done in the case. But the protesting parishioners wanted the bishop to come to the spot right away.

In an unexpected move, nearly 1,000 parishioners gathered in the church premises and demanded justice in Father D’Souza’s suicide case.

Angry parishioners questioned Church authority for not disclosing the reason for the death.

The day being the All Souls Day, the parish offered a special Mass for the departed soul of Father D’Souza.

However, soon after returning from the cemetery, some people questioned the parish priest why no complaint has been lodged on the basis of a video footage that showed a man, allegedly a political leader, and three others, visiting the church during the night of October 11, some minutes before or after Father Mahesh’s suicide.

Father D’Sa reportedly convinced the crowd that Father D’Souza’s family has asked the diocese and the police not to pursue the case further as they have no doubt about the suicide.

Also, the Church is waiting for final police report before communicating to the public.

Udupi superintendent of police Nisha James has been informed about the incident. She is expected to visit the premises to disperse the crowd along with police force.

Father D’Souza was serving as assistant parish priest of Our Lady of Health Church there. He was also the principal of Don Bosco School attached to the parish.

The news about the news was reported late night on October 11, but most people came to know it only the following morning.

Father D’Souza was ordained a priest on April 15, 2013, and served as assistant parish priest in Milagres Kallianpur, Mount Rosary Kallianpur.

In 2016 he was transferred to Shirva, some 390 km west of Bengaluru, the Karnataka state capital.