Idukki: Violating covid-19 protocol, Church of South India (CSI) in Kerala conducted retreat at Munnar in the high-range district last month, that helped spread covid-19 infections.

'As per reports, several priests, who participated in the event got infected and two priests had succumbed to it. Consequently, as many as 480 priests belonging to the Church of South India (CSI) in Kerala, a prominent denomination, have been booked.

The police registered a case based on the statement of the Tahsildar (revenue official) following media reports that the annual retreat had turned into a superspreading event as over 100 priests had been infected and two vicars had succumbed to it.

A section of the priests and laymen under the church recently lodged a detailed complaint with the government also about the alleged pandemic protocol violations in the five-day event, held here from April 13.

Some of them had criticised the church on social media platforms over this, following which the controversial event came to light in the media.

K R Manoj, inspector, Munnar, who is investigating the case, said they are swiftly collecting details about the event now and could comment about anything only after that.

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