Congress leader demands probe into Kerala priest Martin Xavier's death in Scotland

Alappuzha (Kerala): Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday wrote to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj asking for a probe into the death of a Kerala priest in Scotland. [caption id=“attachment_2807410” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Ramesh Chennithala. Facebook[/caption] Catholic priest Martin Xavier’s family was informed a few days ago that he was missing. “But then the news came today (Saturday) that his body was found on an Edinburgh seashore,” the leader of Opposition said. He asked Sushma Sawraj to take up the case of “the mysterious death of the young priest” with the Scottish authorities. Chennithala has requested the Minister to help bring Xavier’s body to his hometown near Alappuzha. He said steps must be taken to ascertain the cause of death of the priest, who was earlier reported missing from his room and church. Xavier belonged to the CMI congregation of the Catholic Church and ordained a priest in 2013. Since July 2016, he was in Scotland to pursue his PhD. Xavier was the parish priest of the St Francis Xavier’s Church in Scotland, and was also pursuing his studies simultaneously. According to his relatives, there has been no contact with Xavier since Thursday as his mobile was not available.