Kannur: The Mananthavady diocese which was in the eye of a storm over the child rape case by Fr Robin Vadakkumchery is back in the news for brutally beating up a believer during the holy mass for questioning anomalies in the accounts of a new church construction.
The attack on James Vayalumkal, 54, took place in the Blessed Chavara Kuriakose Elias church at Palchuram near Kelakam in Kannur district on Sunday by a group with the connivance of the vicar, according to a complaint submitted by the victim at the Kelakam police station. The church is under the Mananthavady diocese.
A section of the believers questioned the expenses of '2.44 crore in the account vicar Fr Dennis Poovathinkal presented in the parish council, which was only '1.8 crore when presented in January in the presence of Bishop Jose Porunnedam.
The believers also submitted a complaint to the diocese over the reported anomalies and demanded a new audit.
However, Mr James told DC that he was brutally attacked in the church at the end of the holy mass, that too in the presence of the vicar.
'It was my right to question the anomalies and also to submit my complaints and grievances to the bishop who is the higher authority.' he said.
“I am attacked as I had raised doubts about the accounts. I suspect, it was a conspiracy hatched by the vicar.”
He had registered a complaint with the Kelakam police station and also the bishop. The police is yet to register a case.
