A Catholic Priest has been arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl who delivered a baby few weeks back while other six accused including nuns are absconding
T Satisan from Kochi
Fr. Robin Vadakkumchery (48) has been arrested and remanded, under Section 376 and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012, in connection with the alleged rape of a 16 year old Class XI girl who had delivered a baby few weeks back. When the issue turned controversial the accused absconded. But, he was arrested later from Chalakudy, Thrissur. The news came out from the District Child Line workers. Accordingly police conducted the enquiry and they found that the priest was the culprit. Fr. Robin Vadakkumchery was the parish vicar of St. Sebastians Church, Kottiyoor, Kannur district, under Mananthavady diocese. Now, Robin has been suspended from the church duties. He is unlikely to get bail since he has been arrested under POCSO. He faces the legal actions for committing rape also.
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Minor Girls Raped at Orphanage T Satisan, Kochi Reports from Kalpetta, Wayanad, suggest that seven school girls of a Yatim Khana (orphanage of Muslim community) were sexually abused by six |
The girl delivered a baby in Christhuraja Hospital in Thokkilangadi, Kannur. Hospital authorities are expected to face legal actions for hiding the news of the delivery from the authorities. Police said, the priest has admitted the crime. Total number of persons with cases registered against, in connection with the girl’s delivery, is six including two nuns. They are Christhuraja Hospital administrator Sr. Ancy Mathew, the doctor of the same hospital Dr. Sr. Tessy Jose who had examined the girl, Pediatrican Dr. Hyderali, the boss of the Holy Infant Mary Orphanage Sr. Ofelia, Vaithiri, Sr. Anita from the Christhudasi convent, Iritti, Sr. Liz Maria of Christhudasi Convent, Wayanad and Thankamma from Kottiyoor. The case has been registered under POCSO Act and Juvenile Justice Act. The investigation team submitted the reports before the chairman of the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR) and the District Superintendent of Police (DSP). Hospital authorities are accused of hiding the delivery of a minor girl and nuns and Thankamma of trying to erase the evidences by taking the child to the orphanage in Wayanad. They have been absconding since the police moved into action.
In the meantime, people suspect that high level conspiracy had been hatched for hiding the matter. Social Justice Department is reported to have assumed that the Wayanad Shishu Kshema Samiti (Wayanad Child Welfare Council) is in the shadow of suspicion. It is alleged that the child of the raped girl was taken to the Vaithiri orphanage to hide the matter from the police. Obviously it looks like a conspiracy to hide the sexual abuse of the minor girl. The Samithi is chaired by Fr. Thomas Joseph Therakam, the PRO of Mananthavady diocese. The Samithi appointed by the government for the welfare of the children itself tried to sweep the rape of a minor girl, under the rug! The demand to examine the phone records of Fr. Robin, Fr. Thomas Jospeh Therakam and Dr. Sr. Betty is being considered by the DSP. There is a government-recognised adoption centre near Kottiyoor; still the baby was taken to Wayanad! The orphanage authorities maintain, two neighbours of the unwed mom brought the child there. But, it is reported that the investigation proved that the baby was brought by two nuns.
Reports suggest that the girl told the Shishu Kshema Samiti, at the time of handing over the child, that she was 18 years old. Sr. Betty received the related documents. A woman member of the Samiti alone is authorised to take over a child from an unwed mother. This action should be endorsed during the next sitting of the Samiti. This procedure has not been followed in this case. Even though the girl gave in writing that she was 18, Samiti did not examine its genuineness.
Almost a week after the incident became the talk of the State, Mananthavady Diocese Bishop Jose Porunnedath sent a letter of apology to the rape victim, her family members and the believers in the parish. Fr. Therakam has been removed from the position of the spokesman of the diocese. The same day KK Shailaja teacher, Minister of Health & Social Welfare, stated that Fr. Therakam and Sr. Betty would be expelled from the Shishu Kshema Samiti. Now, all the co-accused are absconding. The reports hint that Fr. Robin was all set to flee the country.
But, interestingly all the
intellectuals, Leftist filmmakers, poets and writers are mum. There is no protest march of DYFI (youth-wing of the ruling CPM) or award vapsi of the writers or mass petition. Because, it is in Kerala ruled by their leader Pinaryi Vijayan and the vicar and nuns are the main accused in the case. And, there is no scope for blaming Modi, RSS and BJP. Woman activists who are
otherwise up in arms against rapes and rapists do not show their face before TV cameras.
Few years back a self styled astrologer in Kerala was arrested for alleged sexual abuse of the children and women. He was also said to be involved in a big real estate dealings. Immediately DYFI, inspired by CPM, kept on attacking Hindu sanyasins and burning several precious books they kept in their ashrams. They even stopped the movements of the sanyasins in the streets and cut their hair and beard forcibly.
During the last few years Pope has been
apologising to the world for the sexual abuse by the priests in Europe. But, so far no official communication from Vatican in this regard! Nearly a decade ago, when Dr Sr. Jesmy, the Principal of a Church-run college, left the church and resigned from the job the shocking revelations she wrote in her autobiography Amen took the readers by surprise. The authorities of the Church kept on telling that Jesmy was a liar. She had mentioned several incidents of sexual abuse by the priests and the manner she had faced the advances from them. Now, these incidents once again vindicate what Jesmy wrote. Sr. Mary Chandy, a nun who left the Church and runs an orphanage in Pulppally, Wayanad, too is surviving several hassles allegedly created by the Church authorities.
People still talk about the Sr. Abhaya murder case (1992) which still remains unproved. Fr. Thoms Kottoor, Fr. Jose Poothrukkayil and Sr. Sephy were jailed for a few months and later on they got bail. The Mariayakkutty murder case of 1966 and Fr. Benedict who was acquitted by the higher court are still fresh in the memories of the old-timers of Kerala.
Few years back Dr. John Thattungal, a Bishop in Kochi was suspended from the Church after he invited the wrath of the believers and the Church leadership for adopting a young girl and giving her disproportionate freedom in the church. There are reports that now the Church has sent him abroad. Now, reports suggest that one Sr. Mary of a monastery in Pala, Kottayam, leaves the Church. She says, she has been suffering acute mental torture for the last 18 – 19 years. She says, it is because of her strong stand against shutting the eyes against the abuses and financial anomalies taking place in the Church.
BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan said that institutions like Child Welfare Council have turned safe havens for the sex abusers. It happens due to the negligence of the authorities. He demanded thorough investigations into it by a team led by the IG of Police.
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