April 02, 2013: The Rector of Bangalore's St. Peter's Major seminary Father K. J.
Thomas, 65, was found murdered today morning inside the seminary building, according
to a priest working in Bangalore archdiocese.
Police are investigating the
case but no one could ascertain the motive behind behind the murder. Archbishop
Bernard Moras of Bangalore and Public Relations Officer Father Antony Swami and other
officials are not available to give the details as they have rushed to the seminary
in the morning, a priest in the archdiocese said.
Father Thomas, serving the
seminary for the past 30 years, hails from Ettumanoor in Kottayam district of Kerala.
This was his second term as rector of the seminary. It is suspected that he was killed
at night and his body was shifted to a room by the culprits. Sources said that the
murderers took advantage of the heavy rains that lashed Bangalore at night. Due to
the rains, the security men were inside their quarters, which made it easier for the
culprits.
They said that the procurator of the seminary had heard some sounds
and possible screaming at around 2.30 or 3 am. But he did not venture out of his room.
The attackers reported to have hit the face of Fr. Thomas with a brick to prevent
him from raising an alarm. His body was forcibly dragged inside the dining room of
the seminary.
The seminary is located in Yeshwantpur in the city, near Yeshwantpur
police station. Fr K J Thomas was supposed to go to the airport today morning to receive
his sister, who is a nun, coming from Pondicherry. The sister, who was surprised that
repeated calls to Fr Thomas went unanswered, came from the airport to the seminary
in an autorickshaw, but she was asked to stay at the nearby convent as the policemen
had already arrived and begun investigations.
Archbishop Moras has condemned
the dastardly and most heinous act of murder of a “pious, soft-spoken and mild mannered
priest like Fr K J Thomas.” The archbishop said details of the funeral will be decided
by the bereaved family and the Ooty bishop.