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A CBI spokesman said Father Thomas Kottor, Father Joes Phthrukayil and Sister Abey were arrested by the agency's Special Crime unit.
This is the first arrest in the case that shocked Kerala after the 21-year-old sister was found dead in a well in St Pius convent in Kottayam on 27 March, 1992.
Sister Abhaya, daughter of M Thomas hailing from Areekara, was a second year pre-degree student in BCM college at Kottayam in 1992. The college belonged to the diocese of Kottayyam.
The local police who first investigated the matter could not bring out any evidence to prove the murder. The case was transferred to the Kerala Crime Branch on April 7, 1992 which claimed that Abhaya had committed suicide.
In the meantime, the Action Council, constituted for justice for Sister Abhaya, approached the Kerala High Court which directed the CBI to investigate the matter on March 29, 1993.
The CBI had earlier filed three closure reports which were rejected by the High Court.
According to unconfirmed reports, the CBI has also arrested Sister Sephy, a nun in connection with the case.
The CBI had earlier conducted narco analysis and polygraph tests on the two priests and Sister Sephy.
On September 4, 2008, the Kerala High Court directed the CBI Delhi unit, which was investigating the case, to hand over the probe to its Kochi unit after observing that an unseen hand was at work to jettison the truth in the sensational case.
Sister Abhaya's body was found in the well of the St Pius convent on March 27, 1992. The local police and crime branch investigated the case and had concluded that it was a case of suicide.
The CBI took over the case on March 29, 2003, and filed three closure reports, saying though it was a case of murder, the suspects could not be found. The High Court refused to accept the report and asked the probe agency to further investigate.
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From the reports so far available in this sensational case, it is evident that the Church had been playing very crucial role to protect its clergy - or else the people's mistrust on them would affect their future church vs layman bondage It is further evident that these highly influential people have gone to the extent of buying the Police to Doctors to Judges to Dr. Malini - the controversial Narco-Analysis expert.As long as the investigation officer do their job without fear or favour, the justice will not be met with. A non-Hema Judge should monitor the case on regular basis until the investigations are over and all the guilty are brought before Law.
Kottayam Ex- R.D.O Mr.KISHORE from Andra Pradesh, Rtd Crime branch SP Mr.Michel, Forensic officer, Criminologist, and some political Leaders, they all are involved in this case. C B I should bring them out and question. Sabotage of evidence showing high level hands ...Workbook at forensic lab was tampered...and now Mr.Augustins death... and moreover they influenced former Prime Ministers Office too.. Definitely a Giant Racket behind this... 'Law and Justice for all' . Remember that Kottayam knanaya diocese is not excepted from 'Indian Judiciary' System.
Knanaya Diocese Leaders in Kottayam have the responsibility to say sorry if the priests and nun involved in this case. The name of Fr Kottoor was there ever since the investigation started 16 years ago. Yet the suspected culprits shamelessly protected. And when the priests were arrested, some medias trying to downplay the story and misunderstanding the public and misusing the believers. It is very shameful That some of the NRI organisations in USA opposed the investigation of CBI. Let the God NOT forgive those who are behind the murder of Sr Abhaya. Now the people behind Abhaya murder asking for Mr. Sanju. Because they want to vanish him too to escape from this case. The Sub inspector, The Circle inspector they all are involved in this case. C B I should bring them out and question. Now CBI should question Bishop Kunnessery very seriously.
The problem with trial by the media and internet is that NONE of US know the TRUTH. Journalists get paid to tell juicy stories. We all watch soap operas to experience false emotions, and we do the same when we comment on things that don't involve us directly, including real news stories. Just because someone was arrested doesn't mean he/she is the guilty one. They were questioned last year and were released! Why? Why did the last investigator commit suicide himself over this case? The only evidence I've seen reported is that someone claimed to have seen the priest's scooter nearby. What possible business could a priest have at a convent? We conclude it's corrupt!! Ridiculous! No true Christian believes their clergy are infallible! A CENTRAL BELIEF of Christianity is that ALL of US are IMPERFECT. 16 years of previous interrogations yielded NOTHING. Why has the judge not allowed the arrested to have a lawyer present during questioning but warned CBI against physical torture?
What the problem here with the christian church is that,it has a vast majority of believers which believe that all its clergymen is never sin and that they are a bit above the layman or common man.And these clergymen try to utilize this belief to save them from the law and to cover up their sins.We should be clever to understand this.Still the top officials of the Kerala Catholic sabha stick on the allegations that âsome powersâ and CBI are trying to sack the âpoor priestsâ a âpoor nunâ!! As a catholic I am really ashamed to see and hear all these because THEY REALLY KNOW THESE CLERGYMEN R THE REAL CULPRITSâ!!!Why do they try to cover up the TRUTH they preach and MISLEAD the PUBLIC? As the High court said In the GODâS court they will be convictedâŚGOD Please do not forgive them since â They know what they are doingââŚ
it is the right of the common man to know the truth of the murder, whoever made it to be arrested. Catholic church in Kerala has the responsibilty to say sorry if the preists and nun involved in this case.
she is murdered by some, who can only be compared to the evil who tortured the lord, and the clergy that kept mum UNASHAMEDLY behind, and they become the same ugly supporters of those who crucified the lord.
she is murdered by some, who can only be compared to the evil who tortured the lord, and the clergy that kept mum UNASHAMEDLY behind, and they become the same ugly supporters of those who crucified the god.
'SATYAMEVA JAYATHE' - and truth cannot be covered by any power like money and position. It's prooved again in history. Even after local police , crimebranch, the church and politics destroyed all evidences of this case, CBI with the help of our judiciary prooved that criminals willnot survive in our country. We appeal the judiciary to punish all the curlprits, direct and indirected, helped and hold hand together in this murder without any humanity (like the laws in Middle East) so that let it be a everlasting rememberance for all whitecolor curlprits in our society. Our humble request to priests, fathers and nuns of holy christianity is to take off your holy dress and come back to normal human if you find monastrism and please dont distroy the name of other heavenly peoples and lord JESUS CHRIST. SOMETIMES YOU CAN FOOL EVERYONE, BUT NEVER YOU CAN FOOL GOD.
THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF HIDE AND SEEK ON THE ISSUE OF SISTER ABHAYA CASE. SISTER ABHAYA WAS RAPED, NOT BY ONE, BUT BY TWO PRIESTS OF OUR SECT, WITH THE HELP OF HER COLLEAGUE, MURDERED HER AND THROWN THE BODY INTO THE WELL. I CANNOT FORGET THE TEARFUL FACE OF TWO POOR PERSONS, HER FATHER AND MOTHER, WHO HAD HIGH EXPECTATION FOR THEIR DAUGHTER TO BECOME THE 'MANAVAATTI' OF GOD. THESE TWO PRIESTS NOT ONLY COMMITTED A CRIME AND SIN BUT SHATTERED THE HOPES OF HER FAMILY AND HER WELL WISHERS. WITH THE STRONG FACTION OF CHRISTIAN DOMINATED KERALA CONGRESS LED BY ITS 'LIFE CHAIRMAN
Dark doesnt remain dark and hence forth lucifer inside monk's coat will not be able to hide for long from punishment.
yes !! we can wait for the final verdict but the politics which was played by the influential people in our state we cannot forget,remember about Varghese P thomas the police officer who investigated the case and resigneddue to pressure.Everybody knows that catholic church in Kerala is very powerful both politically and financially then also church kept mum for a long time ,the clergies didnot take initiative to put pressure to find the culprits of this case. What it shows?
The arrest of two priests and a sister in the Sister Abhaya murder case even though a much belated action need to be appreciated. If the suspects in this case were to be found guilty and punished accordingly, the credit for such justice goes to the Kerala High Court and Justice Ramkumar.Justice Ramkumar took a no Non sense attitude in this case which forced CBI to dwell deep in their investigation.The Diocese of Kottayam and the Kearala Catholic Church should bow their head out of shame. Kerala Catholic Clergy who are at forefront of any agitation against atrocities towards Christians in the North Indian states were shamelessly remained silent in this case. It was obvious from their silence some one among them were involved in this case. we could safely assume so, since it is highly impossible for an ordinary personto gain entry in a convent at such odd hours. Fortunately vast majority of the people in kerala including christians stood for justice in this.
I agree with you. Its a fact that Sr Abhaya was murdered. The name of Fr Kottoor was there ever since the investigation started 16 years ago. Yet the catholic church shamelessly protected. And when the priests were arrested, Deepika, the organ of the Church tried to downplay the story. Abhaya case would have faded into oblivion, if B Sreejan of The New Indian Express exposed that workbook at forensic lab was tampered..Let the God NOT forgive those who are behind the murder of Sr Abhaya..
I suspect can CBI can prove the case.Or they will subotage the case as before they done.
Let us wait for the verdict of the court and if they are found guilty of their charges, they should be punished here in earth and they will be punished by God for sure. Let us not jump into conclusions yet. And this should not be a weapon against christianity for the deeds of some bad people same as the Hindus who are now charged in the Malegaon blast case. We all have to wait for the final judgement on these cases before we throw stones at each other.
It is a fact that when organizations grow big, the tendency of organized crime increases.Whether it is companies or institutions of religions or faiths.This is a global phenomenon where global efforts are required to contain such acts from Governments and its law enforcement agencies.
Its good to see that CBI had managed to make some inroads in this case which is pending for more than one and half decade> But shocking fact is the way media puts pressure on the WITNESS by repeatedly flashing his name and divulging details , this is really putting his life in danger.Media should understand the agony and trauma the guy had gone through for last 16 years. With no fault in him why should we punish him like this. There is a very serious lapse from sleuths side by releasing the witness name to the outside world and our judiciary should look in to this. Because of this kind of approach only people are not forthcoming in address any issue or to stand as a witness.
It is too early for us to rush to conclusions. In all fairness to the christian priests , let us not run them down. I am a hindu
Hi Arun,You may not know the full facts of investigation and pressure tactics of the unseen hands. A CBI officer who was investigating the case, he is a Christian officer if you are particular about his religion, has come out of CBI and fight for justice to Abhaya just because he was being obstructed by the unseen hands.If not for public pressure, and intervention of the courts, the case would have been closed long ago and the guilty probably gone on to continue with their terrible acts.
Sonia will bail them out!
Whoever you are, know that Sonia is not like Advani, Atal or any other RSS products. Do not kill is a law from the Bible. we have that law because of Bible and we Christians want the guilty to be puniched. Had it not been for Bible, we would have been going around and killing our whoever we think are our enemies and think that was our karma.
True Indian,Had it not been for the Bible we would have gone around and killing...You dont know anything.. poor fellow.How many million people you all killed through spanish inquisition in Peru south america by your bishop, Goa inquisition in india, Crusade in middle east and not to mention in Africa..What about the 2 billion dollars POPE gave the american people to forget the abuse of kids by priests.. and not to mention how you abuse other religion by saying yours is the only way and all others are wrong..Want any more about history..
You are well read. That is why you do not know about the mothers that were forced to commit suicide in fire, the women that were raped by upper caste Hindus, the dalits deprived of land and wealth, the laborors deprived of decent wages, the lower caste deproived of education so that they will not advance. Some one worte about Iraq being bombed. You are all fools who think that America is a Christian country. Go read little more tha what RSS teach you.
true Indian,History as I wrote is not written by fanatical org like RSS or Vatican or communist or television evangelist.It is factually correct and you can get it from internet.Regarding all atrocities committed in Indian society kindly note that it is also well recorded and nobody deny it. But you are well tuned to only Sonia and conversion specialist and church planters.Go get over your obsession to every thing Hindu and see people as humans and leave your I-am-right-but-u-r-wrong attitude which led to years of war all over the world.Whoever in India gave you so much hatred. GO WASH YOUR FACE AND LOOK INTO THE MIRROR
We know what you do. make native Indians refugees in their own country and then say sorry... make abrogines as museum artifacts and then say sorry... turn New Zealand's Maoris into a minority.. turn south Korea from 88 % Buddhist to now almost 90% Christian in 50 years.. we all knoiw... turning Nagaland into a christenland and calling hindu gods into matters of lust in satya Prakash.. We all know...
True, we won't kill but arrange the murders paying others like Maoists! Also just bomb from air like in Iraq and have no idea or intention to kill anybody! All world wars were started by non-christians and we had nothing to do with them..we never convert, educated poor intellectuals convert and give money to us to build churches .. their hard earned money as we conquer other religions just by our religious rational streangth in scriptures, not a single paisa I mean dollor!
Yes, the truth is here. I don't understand why congress always supports christians and HATE HINDUs. Why christians are afraid of ADVANI and ATAL ?They have not done any stupid work like congress doing in AFJAL and MALEGAON cases.
Finally, the truth has come out as a result a prolonged battles and prayers from true human beings. Majority of the keralites are having something about this case and keep on going mysterious and defaming the christian community. Being a christian,i am happy to see the news,the culprits whoever they are, should be punished,if proved so. However, i strongly and humbly request all non-christian not to see other priests and nuns in the same eye. Because of one drop of mud, the entire purity of the water is not to be wasted. These culprits should be punished according to law not only because of the heinous crime they committed which leads to this poor sisters murder but also the way they escaped all these years and devastated the entire christian community
However, the Kottayam Diocese of the Church said the latest developments were suspicious.âIn the 16 years of the investigation, various teams looked into the case and could not find anything,â a Church press release stated, adding that it was surprising that in four days the team got clues leading to the arrests.âThe arrested are innocent and if a proper investigation is initiated then the real truth would come out.â See how powerful and arrogant they are...
Its good to see that CBI had managed to make some inroads in this case which is pending for more than one and half decade> But shocking fact is the way media puts pressure on the WITNESS by repeatedly flashing his name and divulging details , this is really putting his life in danger.Media should understand the agony and trauma the guy had gone through for last 16 years. With no fault in him why should we punish him like this. There is a very serious lapse from sleuths side by releasing the witness name to the outside world and our judiciary should look in to this. Because of this kind of approach only people are not forthcoming in address any issue or to stand as a witness.