Kerala: Jacobites caught forcing children to write on paper in blood
The Jacobite faction had organised a protest in Kerala using students from Sunday school and some were made to write 'Sathyam' on white paper allegedly using blood drawn from their fingers
FollowThiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child has taken up a case against Jacobite faction in the state for allegedly forcing children to write 'sathyam' (truth) in blood as part of its protest against the Orthodox church. Authorities on October 28 were unable to implement a court order directing them to facilitate entry of Orthodox faction priests and followers into a church at Kothamangalam in Ernakulam to offer prayers following strong resistance from the Jacobite priests and the faithful.
Nearly two years ago, the Supreme Court had allowed the Orthodox faction to offer prayers at the church, but the members belonging to the rival faction allegedly prevented them from entering it. The Orthodox faction recently tried to take possession of the church after a court in Ernakulam district directed police to provide protection to their priests to conduct religious services.
To counter it, the Jacobite faction had organised a protest using students from Sunday school and some were made to write 'Sathyam' on white paper allegedly using blood drawn from their fingers. The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child's Rights took up the case after taking note of media reports showing children writing on white paper as part of the protest.
"Children have every right to unite themselves and stage protests for safeguarding their rights. However, minors being used as a tool for protest and using their blood to proclaim their faith is against the law," commission chairmanP Suresh said in a release. The commission also sought reports from the director general of police and the Ernakulam district collector on the event.
The Orthodox faction had moved court after the state government failed to implement the top court order. Last month, priests and followers of Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church had entered the Piravom Valiyapalli near here and took possession of it amid strong protests by the Jacobitefaction.
