Father Xavier Thelekat was the rector of the church of Kuruishmala. The former employee Jomy was fired three months ago. The attacker is missing. The faithful "shocked" by the terrible murderous act.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - A 52-year-old priest from Kerala was stabbed to death by the former sacristan while participating in a pilgrimage. Xavier Thelekat belonged to the diocese of Angamaly, of the Syro-Malabar rite, and was the rector of the church of Kuruishmala. Jimmy, the church spokesman, reports that the priest was attacked and stabbed by Jomy, a former employee in charge of building maintenance and the cemetery.
According to local sources, the decision was made by Fr. Thelekat to fire the man about three months ago. Witnesses say that Jomi had repeatedly asked to be reinstated in his duties, but the priest had not consented to this.
Spokesman Jimmy recounted that the religious was attacked while "he was coming down the hill behind the church. The incident occurred around 10.45 am [local time, ed], when the former sacristan stood in front of him. A discussion arose and Fr. Thelekat was stabbed".
The aggressor then fled into the forest and is still untraceable. The priest, wounded in one leg, bled to death before arriving at the hospital. The pilgrimage site, nestled in the forest and about 3 km away from the road, did not facilitate travel to the hospital.
The murder has left everyone who knew the priest astonished. Saju Paul, former member of the CPI-M [Indian Communist Party (Marxist)], reports: "I was shocked when I heard about the incident. The priest was a very active person. He did good deeds, invited others [to do the same] and was deeply committed to social activities".