On Sunday, tension prevailed at Bonacaud tea estate at Vithura in Thiruvananthapuram after nearly 1500 believers gathered to offer prayers in the nearby forest area where a cross was demolished.
The believers came in large numbers to register their protest against the destruction of the cross.
The cross was destroyed on Friday night by some anti-social elements who are believed to be behind the crime.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assured a delegation from the Neyyatinkara diocese of the Latin Catholic Church that those who have destroyed the cross will be brought to book and reinstallation of the cross will be considered favourably.
The delegation also demanded withdrawal of a case against some priests for allegedly trespassing into the forest area. They also sought security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
According to the Neyyatinkara diocese, the cross was erected atop a hill in the region about 60 years ago, reports The New India Express.
Recently, the believers had attempted to install new crosses on the way. The move was opposed by a group of people who claimed to be BJP workers, the report says.
However, the forest officers allowed the group to enter the area in batches. Vicar general of the diocese Fr Christudas said that the agitation will continue till a new cross is installed at the spot.
The forest officials are yet to solve the mystery behind the demolition of the cross.
The believers accused the officials of the Paruthippally forest range of destroying the cross. The officials concerned have denied the allegation though they had plans to remove the 24 feet-tall concrete structures from the spot as they stood on forest land and was considered as an act of encroachment, reports Times of India.
The department is conducting a probe of their own without seeking the help of the police.