By Matters India Reporter
Punnathura, June 22, 2020: The body of a Catholic priest was found in the well of a parish church campus in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
Father Thomas Ettuparayil, priest-in-charge of St Thomas Church Punnathura under the Archdiocese of Changanacherry, was missing since June 21. His body was found in the early hours of June 22 after a search involving the Kerala police and Fire Force department along with parishioners.
A press release from the archdiocese has expressed “deep sorrow and condolences” at the 51-year-old priest’s unnatural death. The press release noted that the priest had taken charge of the parish only in February.
It also said that the priest, who had blood pressure, was under strain after a fire incident in the church compound a few days ago. Four people had sustained burn wounds and one of them was critical.
No one had noticed the priest’s absence people seldom visited churches because of the lockdown to contain the coronavirus.
His absence was noticed when he failed to turn up for an appointment at the archbishop’s house at 4 pm on June 21. Punnathura is some 35 km north of the archdiocesan headquarters.
As calls to the priest’s mobile went unanswered, Church officials became suspicious and launched the search.
The police department said they received the information about the priest’s missing in the evening of June 21. They found the door to the priest’s room ajar. They also found his cellphone in silent mode and the CCTV cameras in the presbytery switched off.
The police said they have registered a case of unnatural death after some parishioners suspected some foul play.
The archdiocese has promised to cooperate with the state law enforcement agencies who are probing the death. The press note urged the public to respect the sentiments of the priest’s family and the archdiocese.
Father Ettuparayil had returned to India six months ago from the United States where he served as a pastor for five years.