CSI Church row: one injured as protesters, police clash
The Hindu
March taken out demanding resignation of Bishop Rasalam
A section of members of the South Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India (CSI), who took out a protest march on Sunday against CSI Moderator and South Kerala Diocese Bishop Dharmaraj Rasalam demanding his resignation, clashed with the police at Nandavanam, leaving one person injured.
Santhosh S.L., a participant of the march taken out by the CSI South Kerala Diocese Action Council, was hospitalised with head injuries, the action council leaders said. They alleged that he was injured in the police action.
Forty-three protesters were detained at the Armed Reserve Police Camp at Nandavanam and six others at the Museum police station following the incident. They were later let off on station bail, P.S. Dharmajith, station house officer, Museum police station, said.
The action council had taken out the march demanding the resignations of Bishop Rasalam, diocese administrative secretary T. T. Praveen and Dr. Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College director Bennet Abraham who are facing an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into a money-laundering case connected to Church-run institutions.
Reportedly, the police had denied permission for the march citing law-and-order issues. But the action council leaders claimed that they had obtained permission from the City Police Commissioner to take out the march via Museum and LMS Junction to Palayam where a protest meeting was planned.
The march began around 3.30 p.m. The police blocked it near the Museum police station and diverted it via Nandavanam where the protesters clashed with the police. Subsequently, the protesters assembled at the Martyrs' Column for the meeting. They blocked the road demanding the release of persons detained by the police.
Jnanadas Karichal, vice president of the action council, strongly condemned the police action. ''We do not have any politics. Our members include people affiliated to the Communist party as well as the Congress. The Bishop has no right to continue in the post. He should step down. Democratically elected committees should be established for Church administration,'' he said.
CWMA Chairman states Mekedatu dam's feasibility is unestablished, returning the project file to the Central Water Commission.
The tragic death of a Vizag woman uncovers a major organ-trafficking network in Andhra Pradesh, exposing exploitation of vulnerable communities.
Minister Vangalapudi Anitha pledges government support for physically challenged children, ensuring equal educational opportunities and necessary facilities.
Congress criticizes Modi government over IndiGo flight cancellations, linking chaos to a monopoly model harming competition in aviation.
NMDC partners with IIT Kanpur to enhance cyber security and digital technologies through a strategic MoU for industry-academia collaboration.
Sangareddy medical college faces inquiry into ragging incident, prompting a legal awareness program on anti-ragging laws for students.
Join 20,000 attendees in Hubballi on December 13 to honor Basavaraj Horatti's 45 years of service as MLC.
NITK hosts a five-day workshop for JNV teachers, focusing on innovative pedagogy and capacity building in education.
EVM commissioning for local body elections begins in Kozhikode, covering multiple blocks and municipalities, set to complete by December 7.
Wildlife researchers capture rare photograph of Sonnerat's shrew, believed extinct for over 200 years, in the Nilgiris.
Pinarayi Vijayan criticizes ED's notice to KIIFB, pledging legal defense and emphasizing adherence to RBI guidelines for infrastructure funding.
Supreme Court rejects mercy plea of convicted 'Swami' serving life for the 1991 murder of his wife, Shakereh Khaleeli.
Telangana, Australia’s Deakin University ink pact to set up CoE for AI