JOIN USThe Jaipur police arrested a 52-year-old Christian priest for allegedly raping and harassing two minor girls staying at his orphanage.
The priest, Johnson Chacko, and his wife have been arrested under Protection of Children from Sexual offences (POCSO) Act. The couple was running the orphanage and hostel –Mercy Home– in city’s Jhotwara area that housed 19 girls.
“We have arrested Johnson Chacko on a complaint of rape and harassing two minor girls staying at his hostel. His wife has also been taken into custody. The victims have alleged that Chacko was harassing and raping them continuously for the past two years,” an official of Jhotwara Police Station said.
The police also said the seven-year-old shared her plight with her teacher in the government school, who discussed the matter with her colleagues and later decided to notify the police. “The girl said the father of the hostel was harassing her by touching her inappropriately and committing other indecent acts. As we recorded the victim’s statement, another girl came forward to tell us that Chacko also abused her,” the officials said.
The priest’s wife was arrested for threatening the girls. Investigation is on to see if other girls have also been abused.