Police Yet to Trace Priest

New Indian Express
April 7, 2015

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/Police-Yet-to-Trace-Priest/2015/04/08/article2752888.ece

KOCHI:The police are finding it difficult to trace the Christian priest who is accused of sexually harassing a minor girl at Puthenvelikara. Even though one week has passed since an FIR was registered against Fr Edwin Figarez, a priest attached to the Lourdes Matha Church, Puthenvelikkara, for allegedly molesting a 15-year-old girl, he remains underground and continues to evade the police. According to Puthenvelikara Sub-inspector M S Shibu, the mobile phone of the accused has been switched off for several days. “The Cyber Cell has put the mobile phone under surveillance, and persons close to the priest are under surveillance. A forensic team visited the priest’s house, and collected evidence,” he said. A medical examination of the victim had confirmed that she was sexually abused. However, the official spokesperson of the Kottapuram Diocese refused to comment on the incident. Meanwhile, Felix Puloodan of the Joint Christian Counsel filed a memorandum with the Kottapuram Diocese, demanding action against the priest. He alleged that Fr Edwin Figarez was being helped by an ‘abkari’ contractor. The case against the priest was registered based on a complaint filed by the mother of the victim. The complainant alleged that priest molested the girl on several occasions when she was alone at home.

3 Arrested for Stealing Car

The Ernakulam South police on Tuesday arrested three inmates of a juvenile home here on charges of stealing a car. The arrested have been identified as Manumani, 23, of Kumbanpara Village, Devikulam; Stenoyi Stephen, 23; and Akhil, 25. Stenoyi and Akhil are natives of Alangad, Kongurpally. According to the police, the arrested persons stole a ‘Toyota Innova’ car owned by Greenland Tours and Travels, which was parked at the venue of the Vanitha Festival at Wellington Island on March 14. They were lodged in the juvenile home after being arrested for various crimes. “After stealing the car, they changed its number plate and removed the stickers on it at a workshop,” said a police officer.

Youth Held for Harassment

The Railway Police on Tuesday arrested a 28-year-old man on charges of abusing a woman in a local train. The arrested has been identified as Alen Lal of Haripad. According to the Railway Police, the arrested person continued to harass the woman even after he was warned several times.