Pastor arrested for sexually assaulting minor girl in Shivamogga

www.mangaloretoday.com

Shivamogga, July 21, 2023: A 49-year-old pastor has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl who was studying in a pre-university college attached to a city church, police said on Friday.

A case has been registered at the ’Kote’ (fort) police station here under Section 3 of POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012) and Section 8 and 12 of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 2016, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Shivamogga district Balaraju said.

The pastor, who is also principal of the college and hails from the same district, is now in judicial custody, Balaraju said. The police are currently probing if the accused was involved in the sexual exploitation of more girl students.

Members of the Banjara community, to which the victim belonged, have also protested against the incident and demanded capital punishment against the accused.