A Kerala police official was immediately transferred from his post after he issued a notice to Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who has been accused of raping a nun.
On 19 October, the survivor in the rape case against Bishop Franco had filed a complaint against the Malayalam YouTube channel ‘Christian Times’ at the Kuravilangad police station, alleging that the channel was harassing her at the behest of Franco. The Kuravilangad police handed over the case to Vaikom police for investigation.
Vaikom police station Sub Inspector Mohandas issued a notice to Franco asking him why his bail should not be cancelled in the face of such a complaint from the nun.
After he issued the notice on Wednesday, 23 October, the police official was immediately transferred to the Kottayam crime branch, sources said.
“The channel Christian Times has published many videos against the survivor nun and other nuns who supported her. The videos also target officials probing the case. It seems to be a move to question the court and the law.”
“The transfer of the police officer seems to be aimed at blocking him from appearing in court as part of the trial, which is set to start on 11 November,” the source further said.
The nun had also written to the State and National Women’s Commission as well as to the State Human Rights Commission stating that the YouTube channel has been targeting her and the other nuns in the Kuravilangad convent who supported her in the case, and has been harassing them.
In her letter, the survivor said, “After filing the complaint against Bishop Franco, a YouTube channel called Christian Times has been constantly maligning me and my fellow sisters. We suspect that the channel is run by Bishop Franco and his fellow workers.”
Meanwhile, the state women’s commission chairperson MC Josephine said that the commission will take strict action against those maligning the survivor nun and fellow nuns through social media.
“The women’s commission has registered a case over the issue. The commission has directed the state police chief and the cyber police to submit a report within 10 days,” Josephine said
Josephine continued, “Earlier the commission filed a separate case on the same issue and sought a report from the Kottayam SP. According to the report, the investigation is ongoing. If there are cases in the court, the commission will not allow anyone to work against the survivor nun and fellow nuns.”
In the controversial case, the nun, belonging to the Kuravilangad Convent of the Missionaries of Jesus, had filed the complaint against Bishop Franco at the Kurivilangad police station on June 27, 2018, alleging that he had raped her 13 times, between 2014 and 2016.
Published in an arrangement with The News Minute.
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