A Church elder, James Paranathu, has allegedly absconded after he was accused of molesting a 14-year-old in the district of East Garo Hills.
As per the FIR filed by the family members of the teenage girl, the parents had left their 14-year-old in their house while they had gone to work in their paddy field nearby. However, when the parents returned, they found the victim crying.
The incident took place on July 24 with the FIR being filed four days later.
When the parents questioned the victim on why she was crying, she narrated that Fr James had come to their house while they were away and molested her.
According to the victim’s statement, Fr James firstly hugged her before touching her private parts. He then made her touch and rub his private parts before threatening her not to reveal the ordeal she went through. Later he gave her Rs 400 as a bribe to keep her mouth shut.
The parents explained that due to lack of people to consult as well as their own ignorance, the police complaint could not be filed earlier while asking the police to probe the matter.
Confirming the FIR, the superintendent of police, EGH, Bruno Sangma said, “We have registered a case into the matter and are currently investigating. When we went to the residence of the accused, he was nowhere to be found.”
Meanwhile the case became sensational after many social media users began to upload a copy of the FIR which even included the name of the victim and her parents. The SP has warned such people against it and asked them to remove their posts with victim’s identity details. A case against those posting such names is currently being filed.
