Discovery of Hindu idols from Bishop House’s land: efforts under way to settle issue amicably

The remains, believed to be of an old temple, including idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, were unearthed recently while preparing the land for tapioca farming. Following the discovery, a group of Hindu devotees offered prayers at the site. The Church authorities did not object to the prayers.

In view of the development, administrators of the Vellapad Bhagavathy temple in Pala, which is located close to the property, held discussions with the Bishop House authorities.

“They have asked for some time to deliberate on the matter. Appropriate decision will be made based on their response, and we are committed to ensuring that this issue does not escalate,” said a member of the Bishop House administration. He condemned attempts made by certain groups to create discord through misinformation on social media.

Confirming the discussions, the temple authorities said that they would make a decision after consulting religious leaders. “We are considering conducting a ‘Devaprasnam’ (a ritual to seek divine guidance). A final decision will be made only after discussions with the Bishop House authorities, taking practicality and all perspectives into account,” said Vinod Punnmattathil, a member of the Vellapad temple advisory committee.

According to local residents, the land once housed a temple and a Brahmin residence, both of which were lost over time. The property changed hands multiple times before coming under the ownership of the Bishop House, Pala.

Meanwhile, a heated debate has erupted on social media, with allegations of attempts to communalise the issue. The Christian Association and Alliance for Social Action (CASA), a pro-Sangh Parivar group, filed a police complaint against a news channel accusing it of spreading false information to incite religious tensions. CASA also claimed that both the parties had agreed to resolve the matter following the guidance of Hindu religious leaders during a discussion on February 8. However, the Bishop House firmly denied this. “We have not made any such decision. Those making such claims are clearly trying to exploit the situation,” said an official from the Bishop House.