Seventy-year-old Samuel Mar Irenious, bishop of Syro Malankara Catholic Church, and five other priests of the Church were arrested by the CB-CID officials of Tamil Nadu Police from Tirunelveli on Saturday.
The arrest is based on a directive by the Madras High Court following complaints given by environmental activists in Tirunelveli who alleged about illegal sand mining and quarrying taking place along the banks of Thaamarabharani river including the 300 acre stretch of land owned by the Syro Malankara Church.
Bishop Irenious and a priest by name Jose Chamalkkala complained of uneasiness immediately after the arrest and were hospitalised. The other four persons were presented before a court in Tirunelveli and were remanded and sent them to the sub-jail.
According to a media release issued by the Bishop’s Palace, the Church owns 300 acres of land at Ambasamudram on the banks of Thamarabharani River and it has been given on lease to one Manuel George. George has been cultivating the land but following the outbreak of Covid-19, the Church officials were in the dark about the goings on in the land. The Church had initiated moves to get the land back from George following complaints of illegal sand mining in the land. Efforts were on to get the Bishop and others released on bail.