Ten persons were injured in a clash between policemen and members of a local Catholic parish, who had taken out a march to the Bishops House protesting against transfer of a vicar.
Police resorted to lathi charge and lobbed tear gas shells after irate protesters allegedly pelted stones after they were stopped by the police in front of the Bishop's House.
The protest was organised by members of Kurippuzha, a parish in the suburbs of the town, demanding cancellation of the transfer orders of the vicar serving them.
Police said ten persons suffered "minor" injuries and had been hospitalised.
The parishioners wanted the vicar to be retained in the parish till the ongoing renovation of the church building was completed.
Talks held between the bishop's representatives and parish council on the issue had failed and the transfer order was read out in the midst of the Sunday service today, which sparked instant protest.
Bishop's House sources, however, said as per the church rules appointment and transfer of vicars were the prerogative of the bishop.
In this case, the transfer order was issued in normal circumstances as it had been the policy of the diocese to move vicars who had served three years in a parish, a church spokesperson said.
