The district administration will hold talks to resolve the ownership dispute surrounding St. John’s Bethlehem Church at Piramadam near Muvattupuzha, which escalated into a physical clash on Sunday.

District officials have initiated conciliatory measures even as the Ramamangalam police registered two cases over clashes between members of the Syrian Jacobite and Malankara Orthodox factions of the Church.

The Muvattupuzha tehsildar or the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) is scheduled to convene a meeting with representatives of the two factions on Friday, official sources said. “The first round of meetings is likely to be held by the tehsildar and the next by the RDO, if required. The District Collector will meet the disputants if the issue escalates in between,” an official said.

The police registered two first information reports, booking a total of 22 people, including priests from both factions, based on complaints from the opposing groups under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Published - August 10, 2026 11:10 pm IST