Jalandhar, Aug 11: Even though it failed to meet the bishop accused of sexually abusing a senior nun, a team of the Kerala Police met some nuns in Punjab's Jalandhar district on Saturday.
The Kerala Police team, which was given protection by their Punjab counterpart, arrived at the congregation of Missionaries of Jesus, the headquarters of Christian centres in the region, for investigation.
The team met some former nuns of the Jalandhar diocese on Friday and Saturday.
Police sources said the Kerala team is expected to meet and question Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Roman Catholic Diocese in Jalandhar on Sunday.
The Kerala Police team arrived in Punjab's Jalandhar city, around 155 km from Chandigarh, on Friday, but failed to meet the controversial bishop, who is accused of sexually abusing a nun.
The Punjab Police, fearing law and order trouble, provided protection to the Kerala team.
Several followers of the diocese gathered at its campus in Jalandhar on Friday after hearing about the arrival of the six-member Kerala police team, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) A.T. Subhash.
A nun had alleged in June that Mulakkal sexually abused her several times at a convent in Kuruvalangadu near Kottayam between 2014 to 2016. An FIR was registered against the bishop and a 114-page detailed statement was taken from the nun and other inmates of the convent.
Mulakkal has denied any wrongdoing. A spokesman for the diocese told media that no wrong had been done by the bishop and that the allegations were being made by the nun at the instigation of vested interests.
Earlier, statements were taken from the head of the Syro-Malabar Church Cardinal Mar George Alencherry and also a few other former nuns who were residents at the convent.
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Bidar: Preparations are in full swing for the Third National Convention of the Quraish Conference, scheduled to be held on April 12 at SM Hangargi Function Hall, located opposite DCC Bank in Bidar city. The announcement was made through a press note by Muhammad Nabi Qureshi, President of the Quraish Conference (Registered), Karnataka.
The convention will focus on key issues concerning the Quraish community in Karnataka, particularly addressing fundamental rights, atrocities faced by members of the business community, and other pressing concerns. Delegates from various parts of the country including Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, and other states are expected to attend, marking it as a significant national gathering.
According to the press release, this third edition of the national convention aims to unite the Quraish community across India, confront social evils within the community, promote education, and explore measures to safeguard livelihoods and traditional businesses.
In this convention, Mohammad Rahim Khan Sahib (Minister of Local Government, Administration and Hajj Affairs, Government of Karnataka), Bandappa Kasimpur Sahib (Former Minister, Government of Karnataka), Dr. Abdul Qadeer Sahib (Chairman, Shaheen Group of Institutions), Mohammad Masood Ahmed Sahib (President, Aam Aadmi Forum (NGO)) will be the special guests.
As per the release, the third national convention will be presided over by Advocate Sanobar Ali Qureshi, National President of Qureshi Conference.
A number of important resolutions will be discussed and adopted during the session. Key proposals include:
A call for the Karnataka Government to repeal the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020 and restore the provisions of the 1964 Act.
A demand for the establishment of modern slaughterhouses at the district level across all states, preferably on land owned by local municipal bodies, to boost employment opportunities.
An appeal to both Central and State Governments to establish Meat Boards at respective levels, along with a single-window system to address industry concerns efficiently.
A request for greater representation of the Quraish community in state-level decision-making bodies.
Legal experts and Supreme Court lawyers will also participate in the convention, offering insights into the constitutional validity and legal perspectives surrounding these demands.