Father James Mukalel, a 39 year-old Catholic priest of the Syro-Malabar Diocese of Belthangady, was killed on Wednesday in the town of Mangalore in the Indian state of Karnataka. The priest’s body was found on a roadside near his moped.
 
According to UCA News, Father Thomas Kannakal, the Diocesan Director for Social Ministry, said, “Police are investigating the incident because last year a number of acts of violence against Christians took place in the Diocese of Belthangady.”
 
According to information from the SIR news agency, the slain priest was from the state of Kerala. He had just finished celebrating a funeral Mass for a parishioner, visiting families and eating dinner. He was returning to his rectory for the evening.  His body was found the next morning.