Piravom (Ernakulam): Tense situation continued to prevail in Piravom in Ernakulam on Thursday as Jacobite priests and followers refused to heed authorities' plea for cooperation to implement the Supreme Court order giving possession of a church here to Orthodox faction.

Several priests and faithful of the Jacobite faction staying inside the Church complex threatened that they would jump into the river in front of the building, if they were removed forcefully. The stand-off between the two factions intensified following a Kerala High Court directive to the police on Thursday to evacuate those belonging to the Jacobite faction from the premises of the St Mary’s Church, known as Piravom Valiyapalli, and submit a report by 1.45 pm.