A Catholic priest from Kerala, who had taken a stand against rape-accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, has been found dead in Jalandhar under mysterious circumstances. Fr Kuriakose Kattuthara, 62, was found dead inside his room at a church in Dousa where he was posted. Fr Kattuthara's death comes exactly a week after Bishop Mulakkal was granted bail by the Kerala High Court in the rape case.
Fr Kattuthara had publicly criticised Bishop Mulakkal who has been accused of raping a nun multiple times at a convent in Kerala. Family members of Katthuthara have, meanwhile, suspected foul play in the death of the priest. Fr Kattuthara was also a vocational trainer of nuns at the Jalandhar diocese. At the same time, it is learnt that the priest was suffering from some age-related health issues.
The priest had also extended his helping hand to the rape victim nun. Fr Kattuthara had testifies against Bishop Mulakkal when questioned by the Kerala police probing the case. Following this, Fr Kattuthara had faced threats from goons. His residence was pelted with stones and vehicle was attacked, claimed the family members. Fr Kattuthara's brother Johny Kattuthara told Manoramaonline that he would approach the Jalandhar police for a detailed probe into the priest's untimely death.
Bishop Mulakkal was arrested on September 21 amid mounting public outrage over allegations of repeatedly raping a nun. It was the first time in the country that a bishop was arrested. In her complaint to the Kottayam police in June, the nun had alleged that the priest raped her at a guest house at Kuravilangad in Kottayam between May 2014 and 2016. She said she had approached the police as the Church authorities did not act on her repeated complaints against the clergyman. However, the bishop has denied the charges.
