03 October,2016 03:20 PM IST | | mid-day online correspondent
A 29-year-old priest identified as Reverend Father John Koovakunnel was found dead early on Sunday in a church in Khopoli
A 29-year-old priest identified as Reverend Father John Koovakunnel was found dead early on Sunday in a church in Khopoli.
The motive is unknown but police suspect it to be suicide.
According to the Khopoli police, the priest was found hanging from the ceiling fan of his room at St. Anthony Church around 8 am by parishioners who went to check on him after he missed the Mass service.
No suicide note was found in the room, which was locked from inside.
According to a report in Indian Express Police said Father Koovakunnel's parents say they have no idea as to what could have prompted him to take the extreme step.
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Kalyan said, "We have requested the authorities concerned for a detailed inquiry to find out the cause of death."
Koovakunnel was a Kerala native and he had been at the church for the past-year-and-half
He will be buried in Pune on Tuesday.
