Sexual harassment allegations, priest absconding

Mangalore Today News Network

Chennai, Aug 11, 2017: Reports bring to light that a Christian pastor has gone underground after students of a school near Chennai protested Aug. 8 demanding legal action against him for sexually harassing a student.

Rev. Arokiyam is absconding as students of St. Paul’s Mahajana High School in Kaladipettai in Thiruvotriyur protested saying the pastor had invited Sudhakar, a class 11 student, to homosexual activity.

Early this school year, the pastor helped Sudhakar, a financially poor but good volleyball player, to buy school uniform. But after this Sudhakar claimed Arokiyam started calling him often, something Sudhakar didn’t mind as he felt indebted to Arokiyam, reported India Today.

Sudhakar soon noticed his conversations with Arokiyam were not proper and began recording the phone calls. In an audio played out to students as evidence, a voice allegedly of Arokiyam is heard speaking indecently to Sudhakar and inviting him for homosexual activity, the report said.

The students began a protest inside the school premises demanding action against Arokiyam.
Police have been unable to arrest Arokiyam, who is absconding.  A few students also alleged that this was a second such incident from the school.