KOTTAYAM : 23 people including SDPI leader were arrested in Kottayam’s Erattupeta for holding congregational Jumma prayers – an outright violation of State’s lockdown orders, The folks were arrested at Tanmai School. Those arrested include school manager Manakkal Kabir and SDPI Constituency President PH Haseeb.
The prayers were being held in a closed classroom when police reached the scene following a tip-off. The school is located far from the town in somewhat remote stretch. A conviction could fetch up to 2 years in jail and Rs 10,000 in fine for the offence.
In another incident Friday, a group of five men were booked in Kollam Paravur for hosting Jumma prayers that flouted lockdown restrictions.
In Kochi, police registered case against six people including a clergy for holding prayers early morning around 5 am today at St. Maray’s Jacobite Church in Puthenkurish’s Kakkattpara. The clergy has been identified as T Varghese.
As cases of the potentially deadly coronavirus continue to rise, the govt issued ban against holding gatherings of any kind in the state including prayers and ceremonies. When the state locked down, the district administrations across the state held talks with religious leaders on the issue and were assured support from their side.
