INDIA
Deccan Herald
The police in Kannur on Tuesday recorded the arrest of a Catholic priest in connection with the rape of a minor girl in Kottiyoor in the district.
Questions remained on the reported attempts to cover up the incident and the help that the priest got from some quarters as he attempted to flee the country.
Kelakam Police has registered a case against Robin Vadakkancheril (48) under the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 376 (rape) of the IPC. The incident came to light after a17-year-old girl delivered a child earlier this month.
Vadakkancheril was vicar at the St Sebastian Church in Kottiyoor, under the diocese of Mananthavady, and manager at a higher secondary school. He has since been removed from the positions.
The class XI student was raped by the vicar in the parish about a year ago. She was 16 at the time of the incident.
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