Bishops Council protests against destruction of cross in Vithura

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Catholic Bishops Council Sunday condemned the pulling down of two concrete crosses erected at a Kurishumala pilgrim centre allegedly in a forestland in Bonnakad at Vithura in the district.

The incident was a challenge to the religious harmony existing in the state, KCBC President and Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram Archdioces Soosa Paikam said in a release here.

As the Forest Department had made it clear that they have no role in pulling down the crosses, Soosa Paikiam said the government has the responsibility to find out the "evil forces" behind the act that happened two days back.

He wanted government to order a comprehensive probe to bring the culprits behind the incident.

Soosa Pakiam maintained that the Church had never encouraged encroachment and gave protection to encroachers.

It was suspected that anti-social elements were behind the incident, he said.