THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vizhinjam police have registered two more cases against Thiruvananthapuram Latin Catholic Archbishop Thomas J Neto in connection with Saturday’s violence near Vizhinjam harbor entrance.
The archbishop was prosecuted for trespassing in the port project area, which is a high-security zone, and obstructing the entrance leading to the port.
The police have already registered three cases against the archbishop, which has created consternation among community members. In the newly registered cases, the archbishop is the first defendant.
Meanwhile, police have filed serious charges against Vizhinjam Samara Samithi head Father Theodasius D’cruz for his controversial remark on Port Engineering Minister V Abdurahiman.
D’Cruz is on trial for attempting to create discord between the Muslim and Christian communities and inciting a mob to riot. D’Cruz stirred up a hornet’s nest by saying there was a terrorist named Abdurahiman. D’Cruz reacted to the minister’s statement that opponents of the port’s construction were traitors.
The church and D’Cruz himself apologized for the remark and said it was a case of error.
Meanwhile, state police chief Anil Kant said instructions have been given to conduct an investigation into the Vizhinjam police station attack within a time-bound manner. He said those who unleashed the violence against the cops would be identified soon.