India Behind The Lens (News Centre)

A priest of a local church has been booked on charges of raping a 22-year-old mentally and physically challenged Hindu girl, police said here today. A case was registered yesterday under various sections of the IPC against Pritan Messih, head of village church Izatwala, for raping the girl who belongs to the Dalit community.

The girl used to visit the church established by Masih in his own house. On Tuesday, the girl's parents got suspicious that their daughter was being sexually abused by the priest after which they brought the matter to the notice of the Dharamkot police. Medical examination of the girl conducted at Moga Civil hospital revealed that she was six months pregnant.

Meanwhile, Masih succeeded in escaping from the village. Police is conducting raids at various places in the adjoining villages to arrest him.