SOUTH
A Catholic priest from Mananthavadi diocese in Wayanad was booked for allegedly trying to sexually abuse a minor girl in his room in the church.
Two days back, the District Child Welfare Officer Sheeba Mumtas received secret information that a girl was allegedly molested by a priest in Mananthavadi. The officer acted quickly and recorded the statement of the victim. The plus-two student told the officer that Jino Mekkatt, a co-priest of a church in Choondakkara under Mananthavadi diocese, misbehaved with her after summoning her to his room in the church in September last year.
The girl repeated her plaint to the police. The cops found that the church authorities had shifted the priest to another place in December soon after they came to know about the incident. The police have not found the whereabouts of the suspect. Investigation is on to find out whether the priest had involved in other crimes. The secret statement of the victim would be recorded before the judge in charge of POCSO cases.
Related: Rapist priest gets CWC help while tribal youths land in jail for customary marriage
In a shocking incident last month, Robin Vadakkanchery, a senior Catholic priest was arrested last month for allegedly raping and impregnating a 16-year-old girl from Kottiyoor in Kannur. The incident put the church under suspicion as four nuns and a priest was booked for allegedly trying to protect the accused.