‘NO FAITH IN PUNJAB POLICE’
Says the family may seek another postmortem in Kerala if the report is not satisfactory
A day after father Kuriakose Kattuthara, was found dead at a church, his brother debunked police’s ‘natural death’ theory. .
DASUYA(HOSHIARPUR):: A day after father Kuriakose Kattuthara, 62, was found dead at a church here, his brother Jose Kurian, while casting aspersions on the ‘natural death’ theory, lodged a police complaint, alleging that his brother was being harassed by former bishop Franco Mulakkal and his supporters. Kuriakose, a native of Allepy in Kerala, was a key witness in the Kerala nun rape case and had testified against Franco.
Jose, along with his cousin John Thomas and nephew Jojo Thomas, reached Dasuya in the morning to lodge the police complaint. Following the complaint, the Dasuya police initiated inquest proceedings and the body was handed over to the family after the post-mortem, which was conducted by a board of four doctors and the procedure was also video-recorded.
Earlier, Jose said the family may seek a second postmortem in Kerala in case they were not satisfied with the report.
“I and my family members suspect that our brother’s death was not natural as he was under pressure and being tortured by Franco and his people,” Jose said.
“Father Kuriakose was the first priest who spoke against Franco through electronic media. Since then he was threatened by Franco and his own parish members started turning against him at Franco’s directions,” the complaint further reads.
Jose said Kuriakose’s salary was reduced to ₹500 and that too was irregular. “He was one of the senior priests of the diocese. All his positions were taken away from him,” he said.
The complaint further reads that even Kuriakose’s residence and a vehicle parked outside his residence was attacked the day he gave a statement against Franco. “He (Kuriakose) told me that ever since Franco came out on bail, he was being mentally tortured,” Jose said in the complaint. Dasuya SHO Jagdish Raj Attri said they have lodged the complaint and further action will be taken on the basis of the autopsy report.
After the postmortem, the embalmed body was taken to the St Mary Cathedral Church at Jalandhar Cantonment for prayers, conducted by Apostolic administrator of Jalandhar bishop Agnelo Rufino Gracias. The body will be airlifted from Delhi to Kerala on Wednesday afternoon.
Kuriakose was found dead in his room at St Mary’s Church here by his cook around 9 am on Monday.
“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. “There was vomit in the room and some tablets were found near the bed,” she added.
‘HAD DIFFERENCES WITH EX-BISHOP’
Father James Chaco Ullatil, head priest at Dasuya church, said to create pressure on the police, the Kuriakose’s family was wrongly claiming that his salary was reduced to ₹500. “We don’t have any salary and get ₹5,000 as monthly stipend, besides free medical and travel facilities. Father Kuriokose was getting the same,” he said.
On any rift between Kuriakose and Franco, Ullatil said, “Father Kuriakose didn’t like the policies and working style of Franco.”
Ullatil said Kuriakose had been suffering from several ailments, including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problem. “On October 9, his (Kuriakose) sugar level was 500 mg/dL,” he said.
BROTHER SAYS AFTER KURIAKOSE TESTIFIED AGAINST FRANCO MULAKKAL, HIS SALARY WAS REDUCED TO ₹500 AND HIS POSITIONS WITHDRAWN