Acting on a complaint filed by a 10-year-old boy’s parents, Dakshina Kannada police have filed a case against a priest for beating the boy.
The boy was beaten for giving wrong answers to questions on the Bible.
Bangalore Mirror quoted Childline (Padi) director Renny D’Souza as saying that the priest identified as Andrew D’Costa, attached to the Lady of Fathima Church in Peruvai, is the accused.
The incident reportedly took place on April 15, and it was brought to our notice on 18 April.
The boy was giving his first Holy Communion, before which children generally learn many prayers. The priest was infuriated as the boy allegedly did not learn them properly and he beat the boy with a stick, reported The Times of India.
Parents of the boy brought this to the notice of Childline, who examined his bruises and recorded statements of the boy as well as his parents.
Police officials of Vittal police station, where a case has been registered said the priest was booked under the Juvenile Justice Act and Section 324 IPC.
The Childline team could not meet the priest as he is reportedly absconding. A report is expected to be submitted to the district child protection officer on Friday.
However, Rev Fr William Menezes, public relations officer, Mangaluru Diocese, said that the accused priest confessed that he had scolded the boy but denied hitting him, reported TOI.
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