By Matters India Reporter

Alappuzha: June 1, 2022: A Catholic priest was found hanging inside the parish hall of St Paul’s Church, Kalath, in Alappuzha May 31.

Father Sunny Arackal’s body was found by the parishioners at 4:30 pm when they came for a meeting.

He was a native of Chethi near Mararikulam in Alappuzha district. He had served the parish parish of the diocese of Alleppey for the past five years.

The 65-year-old priest was expected to join another in Cherthala on June 5.

“With profound sorrow, imploring and trusting in God’s unfathomed love and mercy, let me communicate you the sad news of the death of Rev Fr Sunny Arackal,” says a message in the diocese’s Facebook page.

A senior priest of the diocese, a lawyer, says the diocese wants real investigation into Father Arackal’s death.

“He was a much loved person,” said the priest who is also a lawyer.

He also said the police have recovered a suicide note from the priest’s body but did not divulge its content. The police, however, said financial problems could have led the priest to die by suicide.