Thiruvananthapuram:
A 33-year-old Keralite priest who was missing from last four days was found dead on a beach in Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, according to information received by Thiruvananthapuram- based Church sources said on Saturday.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj later in the day condoled the priest’s death and asked the Consulate General of India in Edinburgh to provide help.
“I am sorry Father Martin Xavier has been found dead on the Dunbar beach. My heartfelt condolences. @IndiaInScotland will provide all help,” she said in a tweet.
I am sorry Father Martin Xavier has been found dead on the Dunbar beach. My heartfelt condolences. @IndiaInScotland will provide all help.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 24, 2017
A message about the death of Martin Xavier Vazhachira, belonging to the CMI Congregation, was received by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate provincial here from the Archbishop of St Andrews in Edinburgh on Saturday morning.
MISSING PERSON: Fr Martin Xavier of St John's, Corstorphine. Missing since Tuesday. Got any information? Please phone @policescotland on 101 pic.twitter.com/myNjs0xsMW
— Archbishop Cushley (@leocushley) June 23, 2017
The message said the priest, hailing from Pulinkunnu in Alappuzha district, was found dead by Edinburgh police.
Details would be available only after Tuesday, a CMI official told PTI.
The priest served at St John the Baptist Church, Corstorphine in Edinburgh. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader in State Assembly Ramesh Chennithala asked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to take immediate steps to bring the priest’s body to India.
In a letter to Swaraj, Chennithala said the body was found under mysterious circumstances on a beach and sought a comprehensive probe into his death.
Read | Sushma Swaraj asks Indian envoy in Saudi to help nurse pushed into slavery in Gulf country
