ASIA/INDIA - Fr Amalan killed for a few rupees by a youth he was helping

Palayamkottai (Agenzia Fides) – He was killed for a few rupees by a youth he often helped: Father G. Amalan, 54 years old, Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for the Family, in the Diocese of Palayamkotta, in Tamil Nadu (southern India). He was found by the Vicar General of the diocese and the police on 16 February in his room. His body was naked, hands and feet bound and, according to police, his neck had been broken. Officers have begun to investigate and ascertained that the killer is a young 24 year old who confessed and has been arrested. It seems that the motive was the search for money: the youth, having killed the priest, walked away with the few rupees that Fr Amalan had on him.
“We are deeply disturbed by this event,” Fides was told by the Vicar General of the diocese, Fr Antonysamy. “The community is very sad. The culprit has been caught and now human justice takes its course. It is the first time,” he continues, “that such an incident has occurred in our diocese, which is normally very quiet. “In the diocese there are about 130,000 Catholics, 6% of the total population, living in harmony with everyone. There is no connection between the violence and Hindu extremist groups. Bishop Jude Gerald Paulraj celebrated the priest's funeral on 17 February, praising his pastoral zeal. Many couples recalled and testified to the work of Fr Amalan for families. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/2/2011)