Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 27 (BPNS)
Kerala police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) on the Vizhinjam clashes of Saturday and the Arch Bishop of the Latin Catholic Diocese, Thomas J. Netto is charged as the first accused. More than 50 priests of the LC church including the Auxillary bishop Christudas and Vicar General, Yujin Pereria were charged in the FIR. The police in the FIR mentioned that the priests including the Bishop conspired for an attack at Vizhinjam port on Saturday.
It may be noted that those opposed to the Vizhinjam port of Adani group led by the Latin Catholic church of Thiruvananthapuram had attacked the trucks that were bringing stones to the port site and the glasses of many trucks were broken. The protestors also prevented the trucks from reaching the site by blocking the movement.
A group of local people was in support of the Vizhinjam port and when the trucks were blocked by the protestors, they intervened leading to major clashes between the two groups. Those supporting the Vizhinjam port had the backing of the CPI-M, BJP and the SNDP, the powerful backward-class organization of the Ezhava community.
In the clash, several people from both sides were injured and the police pegged the loss of properties at Rs 2 lakh. The police also mentioned that the losses should be retrieved from the Bishop and other priests who were charged in the FIR.
The Vicar General of the Latin Catholic Church, Father Yujin Pereria while speaking to media persons said,” We will approach the High court of Kerala for justice and we will be submitting our pray in the court on Monday.”
He also said that there was a concerted effort on the part of the state government to create the situation of clashes at Vizhinjam port premises. He also said that the government was trying to raise issues against the priests.
