Kerala police inspect Christian retreat centre

The Muringur Divine Retreat Centre, billed as Asia's biggest Christian retreat centre, was Saturday subjected to a surprise inspection by the Kerala police and state health department officials here.

The inspection team detected irregularities in the centre's treatment of patients suffering from depression and alcoholism.

'The medical team will now submit a report and nothing more can be revealed because it would affect the probe,' said a state police official.

The raid comes after the Kerala High Court asked senior police official Vincent Paul in March to submit a report on allegations of criminal activities, three alleged murders and foreign funding at the retreat.

The high court decided to conduct the inquiry after complaints from a former women employee at the centre who claimed she was harassed.

Father Paul Thelakat, spokesperson of the Syro Malabar Church, told IANS that he was 'not aware' of the happenings at the centre because he has been there just once.

'I am hearing about this raid only through you, so I am unable to comment,' he added.

The centre comes under the Ernakulam Archdiocese of the Syro Malabar Church.

People of all religions from across the country participate in the prayer sessions conducted here.