BishopAccountability.org

Fathima murder case: Court orders arrest of 4 priests

Times of India
May 29, 2016

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.

"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.

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 superintendent of 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, B F 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 want justice for my daughter and want everyone who tried to cover up the crime to be punished," she said.




.


Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.