Sister Anupama, who was at the forefront of protests demanding the arrest of rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, was on Thursday heckled and asked by some people to leave the cemetery where the funeral of a key witness in the case was going on.

Kuriakose Kattuthara, a priest who had also testified against Mulakkal, had been found dead under mysterious circumstances in Jalandhar in northern Punjab three days ago. Kattuthara’s body was brought to Kerala on Wednesday.

Anupama, who was accompanied by other nuns, broke down and said she was “deeply hurt” by the protests. “I am from this place. I know Father Kattuthara for many years. He has seen me as his own daughter... we have only stood for truth,” she said.