Kerala police on Saturday arrested a Christian catechism teacher for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor boy.
According to reports, the 16-year-old teenager said in his complaint that his teacher Suresh Esthapanos had assaulted him twice in September last year and once in July this year.
The 56-year-old teacher who hails from Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district, reportedly assaulted the boy after taking him to deserted spots including his house. He has been charged under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso) and was sent to judicial custody.
The incident came to light after the boy revealed to his mother his traumatic experiences, following which the boy’s parents filed a complaint with Childline.
The police said the boy had been traumatized following the incident and was threatened by the teacher of dire consequences if he reveals the incident.
TOI reported that as many as 96 cases were registered under POCSO act (till July) in the Ernakulam rural limit alone, as opposed to 26 cases in Ernakulam city. Childline authorities attributed the drastic difference in the numbers to the fact that there was increased awareness on sexual abuse among school children in the city, than children from rural areas.
The authorities also raised the concern of low conviction rates in such cases.
Earlier this week, The News Minute had reported the arrest of a 41-year-old Christian priest Father James Thekkemury for sexually assaulting a 20-year-old boy. The priest had sexually assaulted the boy, while he was studying in a seminary in Kannur a few years back.