Kerala sexual abuse: Five nuns booked for shifting child

KOZHIKODE: Police registered cases against five nuns and a female aide on Friday in connection with the shifting of the newborn of the underage girl raped by Robin Vadakkumchery, to an orphanage in Vythiri, Wayanad. The police also submitted a report to the government on the suspected foul play by Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Wayanad. Police has no power to quiz the members as it is a statutory body with judicial powers, it is learnt. It is to be recalled that Fr Robin, former vicar of St Sebastian’s Church, Neendunokki, Iritty, was arrested by police for the rape of a minor girl who delivered a baby on February 8. Fr Robin was arrested on Tuesday by police from Thrissur while he was trying to escape abroad.

The nuns include two who took the baby to the orphanage at Vythiri, the nuns in charge of the Christhuraja Hospital, Kuthuparamba and one from the orphanage at Vythiri. The investigation team headed by Peravoor circle inspector N. Sunilkumar interrogated the orphanage authorities who said that the baby was brought to the orphanage by two nuns, one from Mananthavadi and another from Iritty in Kannur. Police is likely to interrogate the nuns in the coming days, it is learnt. Meanwhile, the Child Protection Officer of Department of Social Welfare, Kozhikode which is in charge of Wayanad district, would submit its report to T.V. Anupama, director, Department of Social Justice on Saturday. The report has vital information on the suspected foul play of Wayanad Child Welfare Committee, Wayanad in dealing with the incident.