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.
Assembly Election Results
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 educational 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. tnn