Unified holy mass row: Priest attacked inside Kottayam church

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Kottayam: The ongoing dispute over the unified Holy Mass in the Syro-Malabar Archdiocese of Ernakulam and Angamaly escalated into a violent clash at St. Sebastian’s Church, Prasadagiri, in Varikkankunnu here on Saturday.
A group of angry devotees attacked the priest in charge, John Thottuppuram, in an attempt to prevent him from performing the unified Holy Mass. News channels aired the visuals of the attack, showing several individuals pushing the priest off the altar while he was conducting the mass. Following this, the devotees split into two groups and engaged in a heated altercation.
Meanwhile, the Thalayolaparambu police registered four cases based on a complaint filed by the church priest. In his complaint, Father John Thottuppuram alleged that a group of devotees, led by former vicar Jerin Palathingal, attacked him. The police took four individuals into custody in connection with the incident.