ERODE: A seven-year-old girl was allegedly beaten up and burnt with cigarettes by a pastor and forced to do domestic chores by her parents for over a year under the guise of being imparted moral lessons at a village near Bhavani in Erode district. The incident came to light two weeks ago after Childline lodged a police complaint. Police registered a case against the pastor, his wife, and the girl’s parents. All the accused are on the run.
The suspects were identified as pastor Gunasekaran, his wife Varsha Mahath Athithi Raja Matha, and the victim’s parents, all residents of Urachikottai.
According to police, on February 19, Childline received information from locals that the girl was being harassed by her parents. R Priyadarshini, supervisor of Childline held an inquiry and lodged a complaint at the Bhavani All Women Police Station. Police registered a case against the four on March 1. Erode Superintendent of Police G Jawahar said, “A team has been formed to nab the accused. We are actively looking for them. They will soon be arrested.”
‘Accused also harassed other children’
“All the details will come out after the arrest,” the SP said. Police said Gunasekaran and the victim’s father were friends. Gunasekaran conducted spiritual classes for the girl at night and used to beat up the Class 2 student and burn her with cigarettes.
The parents, too, denied her food for many days and forced her to wash clothes and clean vessels, police said. Inspector A Elavarasi said, “The girl is currently under the custody of her grandparents. The suspects were booked under Section 75 of Juvenile Justice Act. They are absconding.”
On Monday, R Prakash, president of DYFI, Urachikottai branch, along with a few others from the village, lodged a complaint at the Erode collector’s office on Monday demanding action against Gunasekaran. In his complaint Prakash said, “Residents living nearby have told me that Gunasekaran had also harassed some other children in the past. An investigation should be conducted in the matter to check whether Gunasekaran had sexually assaulted these children.”