With controversy surrounding Father Benedict Anto, who sexually abused and filmed numerous Christian women who attend church, yet to subside, the news that another church pastor in the Tenkasi district has been accused of abusing women who attend the church has shocked many.
Stanley Kumar, a preacher at a church in Magizhvannanaathapuram near Alankulam in Tenkasi district, has been arrested by police for sexually abusing women. The members of the congregation have filed a complaint with the District Superintendent of Police saying that he misbehaved with women who attend the church. Based on the complaint, pastor Stanley Kumar has been arrested by the Tenkasi Police. It is worth noting that he also belongs to Kanyakumari.
In another such incident, the news of a 50-year-old man claiming to be an advocate and church employee raped a Class XI student several times in the guise of assisting her financially surfaced a few days ago.
Lawrence, 50, of Madurai’s Koodal Nagar, claiming to be a lawyer and working in the church, assured monetary support to a family in financial distress of a Class XI student from Ponmeni, Madurai.
Lawrence has taken advantage of their poverty by visiting their home on several occasions, claiming to be assisting them with his prayer. Later, he developed a relationship with the student and took photos and videos with her. He repeatedly threatened and sexually harassed her by showing those videos.
According to reports, the girl’s father is a construction site worker, and her two elder sisters are both over the age of 18. The incident was discovered after the 16-year-old girl’s mother observed her upset behavior. Her parents filed a complaint with All South Women Inspector Vimala on March 15. The police registered a case against Lawrence under the POCSO Act. The advocate has now been absconding. The police have launched a search operation to nab him.
(With inputs from Dinamalar and Dinakaran)
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