Kerala: Key witness in nun rape case found dead

The Catholic priest who dared to stand up as prime witness in support of the Kerala nun allegedly raped by Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Jalandhar diocese was “mysteriously” found dead on Monday.

The body of 67-year-old Father Kuriakose Kattuthara was found in his room in St Mary’s Church in Dasuya in Jalandhar on Monday. His family is alleging conspiracy and claimed Kattuthara was facing threats. “We strongly believe that there is a mystery behind his death,” said Johny Thomas Kattuthara, the brother of the deceased. The rape-accused bishop is currently out on bail.

The police are yet to confirm the cause of death, but the Jalandhar diocese has claimed that Kattuthara’s “death was natural”. The diocese said, “The Bishop has no connection with the death of Father Kattuthara as there was no personal enmity between them.”

Sources said a cook in the church noticed something suspicious when Kattuthara did not come out of his room. The door was broken. The father was lying motionless. He was rushed to the civil hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.