Just a day after revenue department officials in Munnar initiated the process of razing a massive Christian cross that was allegedly illegally erected, another wooden cross appeared at the same location on Friday.
However, by Saturday morning, the wooden cross had vanished. Following this, police arrested Raju, a native of Kalpetta and Sibi, who is from Rajakumari.
Both of them were arrested from the vehicle of Tom Zachariah, the founder of Spirit of Jesus church, which had erected the earlier cross.
A team headed by Special Branch Dy SP AD Mohandas arrested the accused and they are being questioned.
In an anti-encroachment drive that began early on Thursday morning, a team led by Devikulam tahsildar had reportedly reached the spot in Pappathichola a little after 7.30 am, after traveling for more than three hours. Following this, they initiated the process of bringing down the 25-feet tall cross.
Thursday's drive was a continuation of the anti-encroachment drive being carried out in Munnar under the instruction of Devikulam Sub-Collector Sriram Venkitaraman.
According to television reports, the cross was erected by a Thrissur-based group Spirit in Jesus. This was the revenue department's third attempt at razing the massive cross, allegedly built on encroached land. At both the earlier instances, the officials were prevented by agitators.