Mangalore church vandal stripped inside shrine

MANGALORE: The motive behind the vandalism at St Alphonsa Catholic Church, the only Syro-Malabar Catholic church at Kankanady, near here, continues to be shrouded in mystery.   The suspect, Shibu alias Shivu, 24, of Pallakere in Jalligudde near Bajal, when cornered by church staff and residents was found wrapped in a table cloth and was naked underneath, says Dennis D’Silva, who was among those who helped church assistant Fr Shibi Puthiyara apprehend the vandal.   The main eyewitness Fr Shibi said the accused was initially seen entering the church at about 9.30 pm wearing a blue jeans and a matching colour t-shirt. When the staff were about to overpower him, they found him covered with a white table cloth.  He had dumped his dresses, including inner clothes, at the base of the sacred altar, in the church prayer hall. Fr Shibi said the accused was apprehended as others in the church closed the gates. Mangalore Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said: “The motive behind the reckless vandalism will be known after thorough investigations.” Shibu was later produced before a district magistrate at his house.  The judge remanded him in judicial custody.  He will again be produced in the court on Saturday, said police sources.