Missing Kerala priest found dead inside church well in Kottayam

 The deceased was Fr George Ettuparayil, vicar of St Thomas Church (Vellappalli Palli), Punnathura near Ayarkkunnam in Kottayam  

Kottayam: A 55-year old Catholic priest in Kerala was found dead in a well in the premises of his church in Kottayam district on Monday (June 22), police said.

Fr George Ettuparayil, serving as vicar of St Thomas Church, Punnathura near Kottayam, was found dead in the well during an investigation launched by police on the basis of a missing complaint on Sunday night.

Police sought the assistance of the fire department to fish out the body from the well.

According to police, the priest belonging to the Changanassery archdiocese of the Syro Malabar Church, had been staying in a presbytery adjacent to the church.

He had gone missing since Sunday from the presbytery and the parishioners conducted a search before lodging the missing complaint, police said.

Police have recovered the CCTV visuals of the priest walking around the church premises till 10.50 am on Sunday. But no activities of the priest were found beyond 10. 50 am in the CCTV as the camera was switched off, police said.