ELURU: The police have taken a pastor into custody on the charges of sexual harassment of girls at Nimmalagudem village in Buttayagudem agency mandal of West Godavari district on Friday.
According to the police, Chode Suresh of Nimmalagudem village in Buttayagudem village was running an unauthorised children’s home at Nimmalagudem village since 2010. He sheltered Class 10 and Intermediate girls from Ramannagudem and Nimmalagudem villages in the mandal.
Recently, said the police, he began sexual harassment of Class 10 and Intermediate girls. A fortnight ago, a Class X girl went back home unable to bear the harassment and told her family members about his behaviour. With this, the other parents too brought back their children from the home.
The pastor, Suresh approached the parents and told them not to believe the girls’ allegations, as they were trying to avoid study. With this, the parents again sent their children back to the home. A week ago, again he allegedly sexually harassed an Intermediate student.
The parents, after learning about the incident, brought the issue to Nimmalagudem Sarpanch Kurla Madhavi. She immediately took the girls and the parents to Buttayagudem Police station on Thursday Night and complained against the pastor. Acting on the complaint, the police registered a case and took the pastor into custody on Friday morning. They also sent three girl students, who were allegedly sexually harassed by the pastor to Eluru Government hospital for medical tests.