Kochi | Priests of the Malankara Orthodox and Jacobite Syrian factions clashed following a dispute over the ownership of a church at Muvattupuzha here on Sunday, prompting police intervention, officials said.
The incident took place at St John's Bethlehem Church at Piramadom near Muvattupuzha in the morning.
According to police, the church has been at the centre of a dispute over its ownership between the Malankara Orthodox and Jacobite Syrian factions.
Currently, the church is under the control of the Jacobite faction, police said.
Police said a few priests of the Orthodox faction reached the church on Sunday, citing a judgment of the Muvattupuzha Sub Court, reportedly ruling in their favour in the ownership dispute.
However, a Jacobite priest and believers who were at the church resisted the move, claiming that a Munsiff Court had reportedly ruled in their favour, police said.
The verbal clash culminated in pushing and shoving between priests of the two factions, police said.
Following the information, a police team soon reached the spot and tried to pacify the situation.
However, as neither side agreed to back down, police decided to close the church, officials said.
Later, the district administration intervened and called representatives of both factions for discussions, which will be held on Monday evening, police said.
Police said both factions claimed that their priests were injured in the melee, but cases would be registered after complaints are received.
The dispute between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions has been continuing for several years, with several court rulings issued over the possession of properties and churches belonging to the two factions.
