Thuvayoor, March 26, 2020: A vicar and two officials of a local church in Kerala’s Pathtanamthitta were arrested on March 25 on charges of conducting a funeral service, defying the government order against mass gatherings in view of the coronavirus outbreak, police said.
Father Reji Yohanan, vicar of St Peters Church at Thuvayoor South, and church’s trustee Suraj and secretary Mathew were those arrested, they said.
They were later released on bail, police said.
This is the second arrest of a Christian priest for conducting services with large number of people in Kerala since the government imposed curbs to contain the spread of the deadly virus.
More than 50 people participated in the funeral service held at 11 am at the St Peters church complex amid the complete lockdown in the state.
A case has been registered against the three under section 188 (disobedience of government order) of the Indian Penal Code and the Kerala Police Act section 118E (causing danger to the public), police said.
On March 23, the police arrested a Catholic priest who offered Mass with more than 100 people in Chalakudy.
He was also later let off on bail.
Pathanamthitta has reported 10 cases of the virus as on March 25.
Kerala reported nine new cases on that day. The total number of active COVID-19 cases in Kerala is 112.
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kerala-vicar-church-officials-arrested-holding-funeral-service-amid-covid-19-121149