Church factions clash over school ownership

KOCHI: Tension prevailed at

Nedumbassery

on Wednesday after members of the

Malankara Orthodox Church

and the

Jacobite

Syrian Church had a conflict over the ownership of the Mar Athanasius Higher secondary School, Nedumbassery.

The police said that series of events started when members of the Jacobite faction, led by

Catholicos Baselios Thomas

I, attempted to enter the venue of a function organized by Malankara

Orthodox

Church at Mar Athanasius Higher secondary School around 3.30pm.

The event was organized to observe the 50th death anniversary of Valiyaparambil Geevarghese Mar Gregorios, founder of the education institution.

Police said that tension prevailed in Nedumbassery after the Jacobite faction decided to enter the school where the function was scheduled by the Orthodox faction.

Baselios Marthoma Paulose II

was the chief guest at the programme. The Jacobite faction had given memorandums to chief minister and the district collector, to cancel the programme.

Police said that the Jacobite faction marched to the school after holding a meeting at the St George church nearby to protest against the function scheduled to be conducted at the disputed property.

The police, initially, prevented them from leaving the church premises to avoid clashes. However, the group took out a protest march to the school.

The police had a tough time in controlling the crowd who were shouting slogans against each other. After the Jacobite faction was prevented from entering the venue, Catholicos Baselios Thomas I launched a hunger strike at the main entrance of the school.

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