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Police arrest suspects in church attack

Gang suspected of causing the damage in fight with rival criminal group
Police arrest suspects in church attack
Published: September 08, 2011 06:21 AM GMT
Updated: September 08, 2011 06:24 AM GMT

Police in Kerala yesterday arrested ten gangsters for vandalizing a church and terrorizing local people last Sunday. Policeman T.J. Jose in Kollam (formerly Quilon) said his men have arrested people with a criminal background over the incident at Vailankanni Matha Church at Chavara. “Our investigations have proved that the attack was the result of a gang rivalry and not executed by any religious extremist group as reported in certain section of the media,” said Jose. Some media groups had blamed Hindu radicals for the attack. Jose, a member of the Church of South India, said the police are looking for five more people in connection with the attack. Around15 masked men smashed the confession box and destroyed the altar in the church at midnight on September 4. The gang, carrying swords, then attacked several neighboring houses, Jose said. The sacristan rang the church bell to alert the neighborhood. When people rushed to the church, the gang scared them away, but fled the scene seeing the police who came a little later. The following day, Bishop Stanly Roman of Quilon visited the church and appealed for calm because the parishioners were upset as they read the accusations of Hindu radicals’ involvement. Kollam has a large concentration of Latin rite Catholics. “I’m happy that those responsible for the attack have been arrested," the prelate said. He also said the administration has deployed armed police to guard the church. According to the police, the gang wanted to settle a score with a rival group. When the sacristan rang the church bell, the attackers suspected their rivals were hiding in the church, the police sources said. Related reports: Crucifixion relics stolen from Kerala church

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