Over 15 people, including two priests, were injured on Saturday when police used force to evict members belonging to a faction of Malankara Church who 'forcibly' entered a church near Kochi and began to hold services.
According to police, priests and members belonging to the Jacobite faction of the Malankara Church forcibly entered the St John's church at Kanyattunirappu near Tripunithura.
When they refused to vacate the church, police used force to evict them, police said.
Five policemen were also injured in the incident, they said adding all the injured had been admitted to a nearby hospital.
The Orthodox and Jacobite faction
of the Malankara Church are at loggerheads over the sharing of properties
under the Malankara Church and on other issues.