115 persons booked for Jacobite, Orthodox tiff

Thrissur: After a midnight clash between the Orthodox and Jacobites over possession of the St Mary’s Church at Mannamangalam on Thursday, both the groups on Friday gave a written statement to District Collector here that they would be leaving the church premises to maintain law and order.

According to Ollur Police, at around 11 pm on Thursday, the Orthodox group who were holding sit-in protest in front of the church broke the gates of the church and started pelting stones at the church windows leading to a clash between both the sections.

Cops slapped cases for rioting and attempt to murder against as many as 115 persons belonging to both groups. A total of 43 persons were also taken into custody.

After the consultations with both the warring groups, Collector T.V. Anupama said on Friday that Jacobites were told to give a written statement on how they were planning to abide by the High Court order on allowing the Orthodox clergy and laity into the church.

“By 2 pm on Sunday, I asked them to submit a written statement. The further course of action will be decided on Monday after getting the statement. Both the groups have promised to stop their sit-in protest inside the church and its premises,” Collector said.

The church is presently remaining closed and the Jacobites are keeping the keys of the church.

Soon after the Orthodox group approached the police and district administration citing the court order allowing the takeover of the church by an Orthodox priest on Wednesday, the Jacobites, who are presently in possession of the church, had started a sit-in protest inside the church.