B'luru girl alleges rape in church for 8 years; 8 booked

Hameed Ashraf | NT
Bengaluru:

Yelahanka police have registered an FIR against eight accused for allegedly molesting a minor at a church near Kaveri Layout in the city's Vidyaranyapura 12 years ago. The accused are identified by the police as Simon Peter, 25; Samuel D'Souza, 40; Nagesh, 50; Benjamin, 45; Jacob Johnson, 55; Naveen Kumar, 50; K Paul, 75, and Lokanathan, 59.

As per the complaint filed by the victim, two people had sexually assaulted the victim while the other six had tried to conceal the matter. The victim in her complaint stated that the incident took place in 2010 when the victim was aged 6 years. As per the complaint, the victim’s parents would leave her at the church before going to work and pick her up later in the evening.

Taking advantage of the situation, one of the accused, Simon Peter, showed her obscene pictures and began sexually assaulting her. The assault continued for several years till she turned 14. Unable to bear the ordeal, the victim had confided in another person named Samuel D’souza, who also stayed in the church.

D’souza reprimanded Peter for assaulting the girl but later he himself began blackmailing her and then raped her for over two years. The victim, depressed after continuous sexual assaults, recently came forward to file a police complaint after counselling and treatment. The accused have been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, gang-rape and other sections. Further investigation is on, police said.