Kachirayapalam police have arrested a priest for pasting handwritten Bible verses and provocative slogans such as “Jesus coming soon” on the walls surrounding several temples in the area. Along with the scriptures, a warning was also included, stating that the idols would be removed and replaced.
The incident occurred on the night of the 12th November, when unknown individual pasted handwritten Bible verses on chart paper and affixed them to the walls of Shiva, Pillayar, and Perumal temples in Kachirayapalayam, a village near Karadisithur in Kallakurichi District.
The messages also included a warning about removing the idols and replaced, along with a statement titled “A Condemnation to the Commons,” signed by “Anniya/Stranger.”
Following a complaint, Kachirayapalayam Inspector Yelumalai and his team launched an investigation, which led to the identification of the suspect as 34-year-old Christ Raj, the son of Santhanam, from the same town.
According to the police, Christ Raj, who has trained as a priest, had established a church near his home and was actively preaching his faith. However, he was frustrated by the low turnout at his church, as most locals preferred to attend the nearby temples. In retaliation, Christ Raj allegedly vandalized temple idols last month and, on the night in question, wrote and posted religious verses on the temple walls. He was arrested in connection with the incident.
(With Inputs From Dinamalar)
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