INDIA
UCA News
ucanews.com reporter, Bhopal
India
September 15, 2015
Police in central India have arrested a Catholic priest, nun and lay worker accused of sexually abusing a young girl, an allegation Church officials say is just another instance of harassment they face in a state run by a pro-Hindu party.
Father Joseph Dhanaswami, principal of Jyoti Mission High School of Ambikapur diocese in Chhattisgarh state, along with hostel warden Samaritan Sister Christ Maria and a maid were arrested Sept. 11 following a complaint by the mother of a fourth grade student.
Kirtan Rathore, additional superintendent of police, told ucanews.com that the arrest was “based on an initial medical report that suggested injuries to the private parts of the girl.”
“We are investigating. The picture will be clear only after a detailed probe,” he said.
However, Church leaders denied the charge saying the three were arrested in a bid to tarnish the image of the Church and create mistrust among people.
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