Priest Charged with Raping Minor

In what could be a shocking incident, the Ollur police in Thrissur on Friday framed charges against a priest for allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl. The police have registered a case against Raju Kokkan, 40, vicar of the St Paul's (Roman Catholic) Church at Thaikkattussery, near here, based on a complaint filed by the victim's parents.

 The police said they received a complaint from the girl's parents, residing near the Ollur railway gate. They alleged that the priest had raped their daughter on a number of occasions after summoning her to his office on the pretext of giving vestments to her and had taken photographs on his mobile while she was undressing.

 According to R Sujith Kumar, sub-inspector, Ollur, the vicar also allegedly sexually assaulted the girl at least thrice this month after promising to gift her expensive Holy Communion vestments. The girl has been taking lessons for receiving the first Holy Communion at the church. The priest misused the girl by taking advantage of her backward social status, he said.

 The incident came to light when the girl complained to her parents the other day and they immmediatly filed a complaint with the police in this regard.

  The police have registered a case against him under section 376 (1) of the IPC, section 66 (a) of the IT Act and section 4 of the Protection of Infants from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 apart from other provisions in the IPC.

 The medical examination on the girl also confirmed sexual assault. 

The police said the parish priest has not been arrested as he is on the run ever since the incident was come to the light.

 Sources from the police said the arrest would be recorded only after cross-checking the details in the complaint. 

 Meanwhile, a press release from the Thrissur Archdiocese on Friday stated that the vicar has been ousted from his post at the Church in the wake of the allegation against him.