Pala: A nun was found dead at Lisieux Carmelite Convent, Pala, on Thursday morning. The body of Sr Amala (69) was found on her cot with injury to her forehead.

The body was found as convent inmates searched for Sr Amala after she failed to turn up for the morning mass. She never skipped the mass.
The doors of her room were not locked from inside and they found Amala, who had sustained a deep injury on her forehead, lying in a pool of blood, police said.

Convent authorities informed that she had been suffering from fever for the past two-three days.

The injury on the forehead is the cause of death, as per initial clues. The primary assumption of the police is that the nun was murdered.

Police said they have a launched a probe as it is a case of a suspected murder.

Nuns working at a nearby hospital are also residing at the convent. As they go to the convent and return in the night, the authorities are not sure whether any outsiders entered the convent at that time.

The sister, who was leading a retired life, was suffering from fever since the last couple of days. Kottayam District Police Chief Sateesh Bino and other officials visited the place and a team of dog squad and forensic experts were called to collect evidence.

Sr Amala is the daughter of the late V D Augusthi and Ely of Valummel, Ramapuram, Kottayam. Sr Lucy Maria of Carmelite convent, Sr Hilda of Assisi convent, and the late Cicily are her sisters.