Priest who testified against Franco found dead in Dasuya
DASUYA (HOSHIARPUR): Father Kuriakose Kattuthara, a key witness in the Kerala nun rape case who testified against accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, was on Monday found dead under mysterious circumstances at Dasuya in Hoshiarpur district.
The body of Kattuthara, 62, a native of Allepy in Kerala, was found in his room on the premises of St Mary’s Church here this morning by his cook around 9 am. The cook, identified as Madan, knocked at priest’s door for the breakfast but he didn’t respond. Madan then informed Sister Lisabeth, principal of the St Paul Convent School, about it.
“When we broke opened the door, we found father lying on his bed. We immediately took him to the civil hospital, where he was declared brought dead,” said Sister Lisabeth said. “There was vomit in the room and some tablets were found near the bed,” she added. Lisabeth said that Kuriakose was suffering from multiple health ailments, including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problem, and on was medication.
Officials at the church, however, said Kuriakose was fine and had conducted the Sunday prayer in the absence of head priest Father James Chaco Ullatil, who was off to Delhi for a meeting.
“Prima facie, it seems like a natural death. The viscera will be sent for examination which will throw light on the cause of the death,” said Hoshiarpur senior superintendent of police J Elanchezhian, adding that police was investigating the case from all angles. “We are waiting for the family of the priest to come from Kerala. Autopsy will be conducted after they reach here,” he added.
Kuriakose’s relatives said the priest was concerned about his safety after coming out openly against the bishop.
“We suspect it to be a case of murder. My brother was getting threats after he deposed against the bishop in the nun rape case. Kuriakose recorded his statements when the Kerala police came to Punjab and questioned priests, nuns and other staff of several churches in the Doaba region,” said deceased’s brother Josse Kattuthara, who will be reaching Punjab on Tuesday. “We want a detailed inquiry in the case and have lodged the complaint with the Kerala police,” he added. Police questioned Sister Lisabeth, cook Madan and other staff of the school and church for about two hours. A forensic team was called.
Kuriakose, who served as parish priest at Bhogpur’s church for over three years, was recently transferred on the post of assistant parish priest at the St Mary’s Church n Dasuya. The church comes under the jurisdiction of Jalandhar diocese, headed by Mulakkal. The five nuns, who are staying with the rape victim at a convent in Kuravilangad near Kottayam, said they were not safe and that anything could happen to them.”We are scared now. There is a mystery behind the death of the priest who had testified against Bishop Mulakkal. “We and those who stood with us during our protest seeking arrest of Bishop Mulakkal are also in danger,” Sister Anupama, speaking on behalf of all of them, told reporters in Kottayam.