CBI court awards life sentence and fine to Hindutva activist involved murder of Rev. Job Chittilappilly

Kerala, September 25, 2012: Father Job Chittilappilly, who for 45 years carried out his pastoral work in the Catholic community of the Syro-Malabar rite, was found dead in the residence of Our Lady of Grace Parish, in the Diocese of Trichur, in the state of Kerala on Aug 28, 2004. The priest had been praying the rosary before Mass when he was stabbed to death. The Missionary Service News Agency reported that the man arrested in the case, Reghu Kamar, 25, has confessed to the crime.

Investigations indicate that Kamar murdered the priest because he feared Father Chittilappilly would convert Hindus to Christianity.

The suspect also wanted to revive a Hindu temple, next to Our Lady of Grace in Thuruthiparambu, which had been closed for nearly 20 years.

It was alleged that the temple priest was killed 25 years ago. Based on a local belief, the temple could be revived only by offering the blood of another priest.The Episcopal Conference also urged the state government of Kerala to order a Criminal Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the murder. The murdered priest had received a number of threatening calls to prevent him from visiting Hindu families, although the latter were pleased to receive him.

Reghu Kamar, a Hindutva activist of the Bharatiya Janata Party was arrested on August 28.

– persecution.in