In a recent disturbing case from Chennai, a church assistant has been arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly sexually assaulting three minor boys.
What Happened
The three boys, who are cousins, used to visit a church near Ambattur with their parents for Sunday prayers.
The accused, identified as Yesudasan, befriended the boys and would call them on weekdays under the pretext of teaching them prayers. He would take them to hotels and allegedly sexually abuse the boys, aged between 14 and 15. This had reportedly been happening for the past six months.
According to reports, the 35-year-old Yesudasan was working as an assistant to the pastor at the church.
How the Issue Came to Light
One of the boys' fathers noticed behavioral changes in his son and grew suspicious. One day, he secretly followed the boy and saw him accompanying Yesudasan to an OYO hotel room. Shocked by this, he immediately reported his concerns to the church pastor.
However, the pastor dismissed the concerns and advised caution instead of taking action.
Action Taken
Dissatisfied with the church’s response, the boy’s father filed an official complaint with the Ambattur police.
After conducting the necessary enquiries, police arrested Yesudasan on June 17. He was booked under multiple sections of the POCSO Act, including Section 3(a), 3(d), and 4(1), which deal with penetrative sexual assault on minors.
In conversation with India Today, police sources said that before the assaults, the accused had allegedly made the boys watch pornographic videos. They added that the abuse began with one boy and eventually drew in the other two.
All three boys confirmed that the abuse took place in hotel rooms, and each of them has been sent for counselling.
Church Response and Ongoing Investigation
The church management, speaking to The New Indian Express, clarified that the accused was dismissed a month ago following complaints from parents about his inappropriate behavior. They also confirmed that the abuse did not occur within the church premises.
The police have stated that further investigations are ongoing.
(Input From Various Sources)
(Rehash/Pooja Bansal/MSM)