Two churches vandalised in Kerala

KOCHI: Two churches have been vandalised by miscreants near the Kochi international airport in Kerala, police and church officials said on Sunday.

The churches, one a Catholic and the other a Jacobite Syrian Church, are located close to each other near the airport, some 30 km from here. Police officials said the attacks may have taken place on Saturday night.

According to officials in the Jacobite Church, Mor Sabore Afroth Cathedral, the crime was noticed on Sunday morning.

"The miscreants smashed all the windows of the room where we had preserved the sandalwood cot of one of the saints. The front door of the church was also smashed," Jippu Varkey, the trustee of the 1,000-year-old Cathedral, said.

The statue of the Jesus kept in the cemetery of the Catholic Church was found smashed, the police said. No arrests have been made.

Church authorities stressed that the area was usually free of communal trouble.

"There are no communal issues in this area and Christians have excellent relations with all other communities here," Varkey said.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) condemned the attacks.

"The Church considers this as an isolated incident. The area where the attack has taken place is a peaceful place. Miscreants may be wanting to create trouble but Christians should not get provoked by the incident," said Stephen Alathara, a KCBC spokesperson.

Last week, a church had been attacked in Kasargod district in north Kerala.