A day after securing the accused in >the rape of two minors of a home run by the >Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) here, the police on Saturday arrested the home’s warden E.B. Suresh Kumar and registered a case against pastor S.A. Packianathan.
The >accused , Veeran alias V. Veerasamy, 23, of Valparai, was expected to be produced before a judicial magistrate court here for being remanded in custody late on Saturday.
Nabbed in 48 hours Within 48 hours of the crime, Veerasamy was nabbed, the police said.
The All Women Police Station at Pollachi registered a case and invoked provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012, besides Sections 366(A) (procuration of minor girl) and 506 (ii) (if threat be to cause death) of the Indian Penal Code.
As one of the girls belonged to a Dalit community, sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have also been invoked.
The case against the warden and the pastor was registered by the Pollachi East Police on the basis of a complaint filed by District Child Protection Officer G. Vijaya.
Sections 188 (Disobedience to order promulgated by public servant), 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the IPC have been invoked.
Officials had already issued a notice to the home, asking its managers to adhere to norms relating to safety and hygiene.
The Pollachi Town Police also arrested two of Veerasamy’s accomplices in a robbery committed several hours before the rape.
Adequate evidenceS. Vijay Kumar adds from Chennai:
“We have gathered adequate evidence to prove that Veerasamy abducted and raped the minors at an isolated place by keeping them under a constant threat. Our priority is to file a charge sheet at the earliest and get the maximum punishment,” a senior police official said here on Saturday.
