Thrissur: Kerala police have registered a case against 120 people in connection with a fight that broke out between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions in Mannamangalam Church in Thrissur on Thursday midnight. 

More than 30 people have been arrested in connection with the case. As per reports, several people are yet to be arrested. The police are still waiting for them to come outside the church as the police cannot enter the church and arrest them. 

Also read: Clashes at Kothamangalam church: Kerala Police arrest 20

The fight broke out when the Orthodox faction entered the church after breaking the gate at midnight. Both factions resorted to pelting stones at each other. 

Following this, the Orthodox faction staged a sit-in strike outside the church demanding permission to enter and offer prayers at the church. They protested on the grounds that the court verdict is in favour of them. However, the Jacobite faction who were inside the church did not allow the Orthodox group to enter.

Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Meletios, the bishop of Thrissur is named as the first accused of the case. Many priests too have been listed as accused in connection with this case and are charged with murder and attempt to instil riot.

Many people who were injured in the fight were undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Thrissur. The bishop of Thrissur Yuhanon Mar Meletios is also been injured in the violence. As per sources, the police forcefully removed protestors from the spot.

Meanwhile, district collector TV Anupama has called both the factions for talks on Friday in an attempt to resolve the dispute. 

Similarly, On December 20, the Jacobite devotees blocked the Orthodox Ramban, Fr Thomas Paul from entering the Mar Thoma church in Kochi. Subsequently, a massive protest and clashes between Orthodox and Jacobite groups were witnessed outside the church premises in Kothamangalam.

The Jacobite group was upset after the Kerala high court dismissed the petition filed by it on December 18. Jacobite devotees filed a case against the Muvattupuzha munsif court order granting police protection to Fr Paul to enter the Mar Thoma church.