No funds for security of nun who accused Jalandhar bishop of rape: Convent
The missionaries of Congregation of Jesus Catholic Church had sent a letter to the Kerala Police, saying they did not have financial resources to continue protecting the nun who filed a sexual assault case against the former Jalandhar bishop, and five witnesses (all nuns). They should, thus, be shifted to a government-run home, they said.
The letter came a week after the police suggested certain measures to tighten security at the convent in Kuravilangad (Kottayam), where the victim and others have been staying after the death of one of the key witnesses, Father Kattuthara, in Jalandhar last month.
Former Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal, who was accused of raping the nun of the convent multiple times between 2014 and 2016, is on bail after spending three weeks in a Kerala jail. The special investigation team had arrested him after several rounds of questioning. Police decided to step up security of the victim and witnesses after the mysterious death of the main witness.
His relatives had approached the Punjab Police for a thorough probe into circumstances that led to his death.
After his death, sister Anupama, who led a two-week long sit-in at Kochi seeking the arrest of Mulakkal, said they also feared for their lives. A section of the inmates of the convent is said to be supporting the accused bishop. Later, the police directed convent authorities to take a few measures — Install CCTV cameras, proper lighting of the road and sought details of all inmates and workers of the convent. The mother superior said the congregation doesn’t have financial resources to meet this and heightened security measures were affecting other inmates.
But sources close to the victim said it was a move aimed at pushing them out of the convent and silence them. Earlier, sister Anupama had insisted that they will remain with the congregation and won’t move out of the convent. Father Augustine Vattoly, who was the convener of the ‘Save Our Sisters’ campaign, had also complained that he was warned of ecclesiastical action if he continued to back movements against the church. Sister Anupama was not available for her comments.
In June, a 43-year-old nun, also a mother superior, had complained to police that Mulakkal had raped her 13 times between 2014 and 2016. The nun is a member of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation based in Punjab. But Mulakkal denied all charges saying he was framed after he took action against her for financial irregularities in the convent.