Catholic Forum President Binu Chacko has lodged a complaint with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging links between three Syro-Malabar pastors and Maoists. Binu Chacko has also forwarded copies of the same to Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala, and the State Police Chief.
Binu Chacko told Janam Malayalam TV channel that the Synod subjects of the Church were discussed in 2022. The link between some Kochi-based pastors and terrorist groups is recorded in the related Synod documents. Subsequent inquiries revealed serious matters. These include the startling information that about twelve pastors of the Ernakulam–Angamaly Archdiocese have links with Maoists and anti-national forces. Maoist links to several agitations in the state had been confirmed. Maoist involvement was alleged in agitations such as Muthanga, Chengara, Coca-Cola, the GAIL pipeline, and Vayalkkili. Agencies appointed by the state government had confirmed this. Church pastors like Fr Vattoli had supported these movements. Binu Chacko added that the names of these pastors were included in the complaint.
Binu Chacko said that the allegations could be confirmed if the financial transactions of these pastors are examined. Their itineraries should also be investigated. Although they are senior pastors, they choose to work in small churches so that they can devote most of their time to other matters. He noted that various institutions under the Ernakulam–Angamaly Archdiocese had been raided by police in connection with the Maoist-Naxal presence.
Binu Chacko also alleged that these pastors collect funds from anti-national forces and hand them over to Maoist terrorists. In 2017, Cardinal George Alencherry was attacked at the Church Headquarters. Mystery still surrounds the identity of the attackers. Binu Chacko alleged that the police have not conducted any serious inquiry.
Catholic Forum President Binu Chacko’s allegation is of paramount significance in view of the latest developments in Chhattisgarh and the disclosures made by a former Division Commander of the Maoists in Dantewada to Janam TV.
He stated that Church missionaries had links with Maoists in Raipur, Jabalpur, and Dantewada, where the Maoists were supported by missionaries. The said commander surrendered in 2015 and currently lives in a rehabilitation centre in Dantewada.
This is not the first time that members of the Church have been accused of links with Maoist groups. In Chhattisgarh, there have been multiple allegations involving Church-affiliated individuals – from providing shelter to Maoists to aiding them with medical equipment and logistical support.
One of the most high-profile cases involving Church-linked individuals and Maoist networks was that of Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest widely described as an Urban Naxal. Arrested in connection with the 2018 Bhima Koregaon–Elgaar Parishad case, Stan Swamy was charged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which cited evidence suggesting that he had conspired with Maoist groups to overthrow the democratically elected government and instigate an armed rebellion.
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