Assurance from their bishop on November 2 prompted some Catholics to call of their protest demanding a probe into the alleged suicide of a priest.

Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo of Udupi has promised to meet the protesters at 10 am on November 3 in their Our Lady of Health Church in Shirva, some 20 km south of the diocesan headquarters.

The parishioners launched the protests suspecting foul play in Father Mahesh D’Souza’s death.

The 36-year-old was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his room in Shirva on October 12.

Sunil Kabral, a leader of the protesters, said local parish priest Father Dennis D’Souza and police officers have requested them to meet the bishop in the parish on November 3. “So, we have dispersed from the church premises,” he told reporters.