Two people have been arrested for causing violence in a church procession in Ernakulam

Two people involved in the alleged attack on a policeman during the annual festival at Marthaman Church, Mulanthuruthi on Friday (December 19) have been remanded in custody while 32 others have been charged.

The historic church has been a source of controversy for years but was handed over to the Orthodox faction of the Malankara Syrian Church following a 2017 Supreme Court ruling. The Jacobite group has its own place of worship near the old church and after a dispute over the procession during the festival, there was a clash between the group and the police who were assigned to maintain order.