India: Seminary Rector found murdered

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.

Source: Daijiworld/Ucan