Two priests held for rector’s murder

BENGALURU:  The city police have made a headway in the investigations into the murder of Rector Fr K. J. Thomas of St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary in Yeshwanthpur, which occurred on March 31 last year, and arrested three persons in this connection. The police said the investigation was still on and more arrests were to follow.  Hierarchical rivalry within the seminary was the reason for the murder, claimed the police.

The  arrested have been identified as priests Ilyas  and William Patrick and a layman Peter. “The motive of the murder is hierarchical rivalry. Fr. Thomas, who was working in the seminary for many years, was sidelining the accused from getting prominent posts. They nurtured their vengeance, conspired and planned  the murder so meticulously that they did not leave any trail,” said Mr Lalrokhuma Pachuau, state DG&IGP.

The accused were also on the lookout for certain important documents related to the seminary, including those pertaining to lands granted to the seminary, all of which were stored in one of the seminary rooms.

 They hatched a plot to break into the seminary on the night of March 31, 2013. As it was Easter time, they knew that all other inmates would be on leave. The thundershowers that night also eased matters, the police said. On the fateful day, the trio met near Yeshwanthpur circle and went to the seminary armed with rods and other deadly weapons. They broke open the seminary rooms in search of  the documents. When Fr. Thomas came out of his room, he was fatally assaulted. “We have arrested the accused and a few other arrests will have to be made as the investigation is still in progress, ” police officials said.