Clash Erupts At St. Michael The Archangel Church In Kanyakumari Over Shrine Demolition Plans

A commotion and minor skirmish erupted between two groups—one led by the church priest and the other comprising church members—when the priest’s group attempted to demolish the old shrine in front of the church to expand the St. Michael the Archangel shrine in Mela Asaripallam, Kanyakumari district. The members opposed the demolition and attacked those involved in the expansion efforts. This unrest led to police being deployed to manage the agitated crowd.

The St. Michael the Archangel Church, located near Nagercoil, supports over a hundred families devoted to this historic site. For several years, the church priest has been accused of attempting to demolish an old shrine across the road from the church to build a new one within the church grounds.

This plan faced strong opposition from some church members, who have called for the priest’s transfer, alleging that he fosters division among congregants and engages in money laundering activities. Recently, the church administration, led by the priest, tried to remove the old shrine and held a puja there to pave the way for a new structure. However, the opposing group intervened, leading to heated exchanges between the two factions.

Police, led by Nagercoil ASP Lalith Kumar, were deployed to manage the escalating tensions. One group condemned the priest’s actions and protested outside the church, while the priest’s supporters organized their own demonstrations in response.

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