In yet another case of sexual harassment by the clergy in Church, a pastor in Andhra Pradesh has been arrested for sexually harassing minor girls from Scheduled Caste community.
Pastor Uppalapati Ravindra Prasanna Kumar is the head of Covenant Church & District President for National Christian Board, Andhra Pradesh Chapter. He had allegedly sexually exploited a girl belonging to the Scheduled Caste community within the Church premises.
The incident reportedly happened on 6th November 2021, but the police did not register FIR initially. The issue was then brought to attention of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) by Hindu Jana Shakti Vice President Prerna Thiruvaipati.
SC/ST Rights Forum, a legal advocacy organization had said that Sub-Inspector Maruthi had allegedly tried to ‘settle the matter’ by making the victim agree to a compromise.
However, upon the intervention of NCPCR, the pastor was arrested.
Pastor Uppalapati Ravindra Prasanna Kumar was arrested u/s of POCSO Act for sexually harassing innocent minor SC girls in his Church.
Thanks to @NCPCR_ Chairman Shri @KanoongoPriyank ji for kind intervention.
Thanks to Smt. @PrernaThiruvaip for taking the matter to @NCPCR_ https://t.co/6g9bG8cuyF pic.twitter.com/Sb7gLyct9d
— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) November 13, 2021
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