Udupi: Mass prayers during lockdown; FIR filed against Church priest, six others

Udupi: Despite restrictions on religious gathering, amid the 21-day nation-wide lockdown mass prayers were held at St Antony Church of Padukone, Nada village on April 9 evening.

The issue was brought to the notice of Nada gram panchayat PDO who then visited the spot and found that church priest Fr Fred Mascarenhas and six others were offering mass prayers in violation of the lockdown guidelines.

The PDO then intimated about the incident to Byndoor tahsildar Basappa P Poojary and taluk bailiff who filed a complaint with Gangolli police and urged to take suitable action under column 144 (3) CrPC.

A case has been filed and investigation is on.