Priest molests child in S Delhi, gets thrashed

Times of India
July 13, 2015

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Priest-molests-child-in-S-Delhi-gets-thrashed/articleshow/48046621.cms

NEW DELHI: A priest at a temple in Rangpur Pahari was thrashed by public and handed over to police for sexually abusing an eight-year-old girl who had gone to collect offerings from him on Saturday night.

Locals informed police that the 62-year-old priest, identified as Lakhan Giri, had disrobed the girl and was about to assault her when he was caught.

Around 8pm on Saturday, the girl went to the temple with her four-year-old brother to ask for offerings from the priest. Her brother told police that Giri then called her into his room while he asked him to wait outside. After a few minutes, other people in the temple heard the girl's cries and rushed into the priest's room where they found him molesting her. Giri was then dragged outside and thrashed before being handed over to the police.

The girl was taken for a medical examination and later sent to an NGO for counselling. In her statement, the girl said the priest gagged her and then disrobed her. He even threatened her with dire consequences if she raised an alarm.

The girl stays with her parents in a slum cluster in Rajokri village. and studies at a local government school.

A case under sections of POCSO and outraging the modesty of a woman under Section 354 IPC has been registered at Vasant Kunj (south) police station. Police said they have recovered the CCTV footages from the area which shows the priest taking the girl into his room.