ALAPPUZHA: The body of Fr Martin Xavier, 33, who had gone missing in Scotland since Wednesday, was found on Saturday at a beach near Edinburgh University where he was doing PhD. Fr Xavier, who belongs to Vazhachirayil house, Pulinkunnu, Kuttanad, had also been serving at St. John the Baptist Church in Corstorphine near Falkirk under the Edinburgh diocese since July last year. He was a member of the CMI congregation. His relatives said that the Malayalis staying in the locality informed them about finding the body. They suspect mystery in his death. The doors of the parish and the room where he lived were found open. His passport and other papers were traced out from the room, they said.
The relatives had contacted the priest till Tuesday. When he failed to attend the Mass, the church authorities alerted the CMI ashram at Pulinkunnu. Fr Xavier had earlier worked as vicar of Chethipuzha Church, Changanassery. He was ordained a priest on December 30, 2013. Local MP Kodikunnil Suresh MP, who visited the bereaved family at Kuttanad on Saturday, said that he had written to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and consul-general of India in Edinburgh Anju Ranjan seeking an inquiry into the death. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala also demanded an inquiry.
