http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Fathima-murder-case-Court-orders-arrest-of-4-priests/articleshow/52486499.cms
Coimbatore: The Palakkad court has ordered the Kerala police to arrest four priests from Coimbatore in connection with the murder of Fathima Sofiya of Kottaimedu. Shanthi Roselin, Fathima's mother, said they were informed that the court directed the police to register cases under Section 201 and Section 202 of the IPC.
Fathima Sofiya died on July 23, 2013 and the Walayar police closed it after nine months concluding that she had committed suicide. But Shanthi had alleged that she was strangulated by H Arockiaraj, a priest. Shanthi said that police tried to dismiss the case as suicide.
Later, she came across a letter written by Fathima, where she said that if anything ever happened to her, Arockiaraj would be responsible.
She had also written about her affair with him.
In a sting operation carried out by a local television channel, father H Arcockiaraj had confessed to his crime. After that the Kerala police re-opened the case and changed the sections to 302 (murder).
M K Zulfiquer, deputy superintenden tof police of Palakkad, said that they had received the court order a few weeks ago. "We will conduct an inquiry with the four priests and take action," he said. Shanthi said that the priests named in the copy were Bishop Thomas Acunis, BF Madhulaimuthu, a priest from Kerala, father Kulandiaraj and father Lawrence Melque.
Shanthi Roselin said that she was ostracised from the community since she wanted to seek justice for her daughter. "I am glad that truth has finally come out. "I am glad that truth has finally come out. I want justice for my daughter and want everyone who tried to cover up the crime to be punished," she said.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/catholic-diocese-stages-demonstration/article7338077.ece
Fathima murder case: Court orders arrest of 4 priests
TNN | May 29, 2016, 07.26 AM ISTCoimbatore: The Palakkad court has ordered the Kerala police to arrest four priests from Coimbatore in connection with the murder of Fathima Sofiya of Kottaimedu. Shanthi Roselin, Fathima's mother, said they were informed that the court directed the police to register cases under Section 201 and Section 202 of the IPC.
Fathima Sofiya died on July 23, 2013 and the Walayar police closed it after nine months concluding that she had committed suicide. But Shanthi had alleged that she was strangulated by H Arockiaraj, a priest. Shanthi said that police tried to dismiss the case as suicide.
Later, she came across a letter written by Fathima, where she said that if anything ever happened to her, Arockiaraj would be responsible.
She had also written about her affair with him.
"After this, I petitioned several higher officials in Kerala who said a CBI probe would begin soon. But since no action was taken, I decided to go to a television channel to bring out the truth," she said.
M K Zulfiquer, deputy superintenden tof police of Palakkad, said that they had received the court order a few weeks ago. "We will conduct an inquiry with the four priests and take action," he said. Shanthi said that the priests named in the copy were Bishop Thomas Acunis, BF Madhulaimuthu, a priest from Kerala, father Kulandiaraj and father Lawrence Melque.
Shanthi Roselin said that she was ostracised from the community since she wanted to seek justice for her daughter. "I am glad that truth has finally come out. "I am glad that truth has finally come out. I want justice for my daughter and want everyone who tried to cover up the crime to be punished," she said.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/catholic-diocese-stages-demonstration/article7338077.ece
Catholic Diocese stages demonstration
Priests and nuns take part in the protest against a private television channel at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Coimbatore on Saturday.- Photo: S. Siva Saravanan
Catholic Diocese of Coimbatore staged a demonstration at St. Michael’s Cathedral on Saturday protesting against a programme aired by a private television channel last week.
Priests, nuns and the congregation, who took part in the protest, claimed that the programme hurt their sentiments.The television channel aired a programme in which a 40-year old resident of Kottaimedu here alleged that a catholic misbehaved with her 18-year-old daughter before murdering her on the premises owned by the church near Walayar in Palakkad District in July 2013.
It is said that the programme further added that the parents were afraid to send children to the schools run by priests after the incident and also made defamatory remarks against the bishop and priests. The two-hour programme was aired in two episodes in the evening on July 15 and 16 – and re telecasted it in the morning the next days.
Vicar General of Diocese of Coimbatore John Joseph Stanis, who headed the protest, said that the agitaton was to condemn such defamatory remarks. “They were one sided statements and the channel did not approach us to verify them. This has tarnished the image of the church and hurt the sentiments of believers,” he told The Hindu .
Mr. Stanis said that the priest Arokiaraj who was claimed to be involved in the incident was dismissed under the Canon Law (Church law) on moral grounds on charges of misbehaving with the girl.
Stating that it was up to the police to inquire and find out the ‘mystery’ behind the girl’s death, he said that the church was ready to cooperate with the police for inquires in connection with the allegations posed by the women (Shanthi Roselin). The Vicar General said that the church would file a defamation petition against the television channel.
Earlier this week, Shanthi Roselin lodged a complaint with the city police alleging that a few persons – instigated by the priest who she claimed to be responsible for her daughter’s death – damaged her house and also intimidated on the day after the first episode was aired. Based on the complaint Ukkadam Police have registered a case against six persons under sections 147 (rioting), 294B (obscene language), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) and 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
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