Minor siblings allege abuse, probe on

The City police have launched a probe into the alleged abuse of three minor siblings, all natives of Ernakulam.

According to the police, a case under Sections 7 and 8 of the POCSO Act, based on the statement of the three children, has been registered. As per the statement, the three children along with their mother were at a retreat centre in Coimbatore when the incident came to light.

During interrogation, the girls revealed that they were molested after being taken to two major Christian religious establishments.

“We are probing the matter to find the truth behind the incident,” said a police officer. He added that the children had undergone a medical examination and they have been sent to a care home.

Earlier in the day, a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court directed the District Police Chief, Kochi City, to depute sufficient policewomen to ensure the safety of the three children. The directive came on a petition filed by their father, who alleged that his wife and children were illegally detained by Sebastian Kundukulam of Unnieshobhavan, Coimbatore. The petitioner said the Unnieshobhavan people were wooing innocent persons, more particularly women from Kerala, on false promises. When the petition came up on Tuesday, the police produced his wife and three children before the court.

The mother told the court that she now would like to stay along with her friend at Angamaly. The court, therefore, ordered that the mother and children stay along with her friend.