According to sources, Lonappan, a member of the church, died a few days ago, and his mortal remains was taken to the church. After the prayers, the body was not taken out to the burial ground from the church. (Representational images)

Chennai: Six years after unearthing an unauthorised home for disposal of dead bodies in Salavakkam, Kancheepuram district, a similar case has come to light near Pallavaram, on Wednesday.

On information from locals, revenue officials and police stumbled on St Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Pozhichalur near Pallavaram, and found a decomposed body of Lonappan (75), concealed in a concrete vault.

Police have launched a hunt of Jose, chairman, and Geo, reverend of the Church.

According to sources, Lonappan, a member of the church, died a few days ago, and his mortal remains was taken to the church. After the prayers, the body was not taken out to the burial ground from the church. Locals, who were watching the functions at the church, sensed something wrong.

They filed a representation with Kancheepuram collector P. Ponniah. On his direction, a team led by tahsildar and Tambaram RDO, rushed to the church on Wednesday evening. Sankar Nagar police provided security cover to the team.

After a thorough search at the church premises, officials found 12 concrete vaults put up for disposal of dead bodies. Eleven of them were empty, and they found the decomposed body of Lonappan inside one of the cement vaults.

Workers retrieved the body from the vault and it was taken to a cemetery near the church.

Sankar Nagar police registered case and have launched a hunt for the chairman and father of the church.

Official sources said the church was functioning for the past three-and-half years, for which no permission was obtained from the authorities. The chairman had put up the unauthorised concrete vaults for disposal of dead bodies at the church.

It may be noted that an unauthorised St Joseph's Hospice for 'Dying Destitutes' was engaged in disposal of bodies at Paaleswaram in Salavakkam, Kancheepuram district, and this came to light after some local people brought it to the notice of the media six years ago.