13 Year Old Hindu Girl Sexually Abused by Pastor in Christian Orphange

Posted January 13, 2006
Thursday January 12 2006 11:17 IST
COIMBATORE
newindpress.com

Charles (45), a pastor, who had sexually abused 13-year-old Lakshmi, an inmate of his orphanage, committed suicide on Tuesday by throwing himself before a running train at North Coimbatore Railway Station.

Police had been searching him.

The orphanage run by pastor Charles had been functioning at Mongampalayam village on the Annur-Mettupalayam road. Lakshmi alleged that he had been sexually abusing her for a year.

A complaint was lodged with Karamadai police on Sunday. Charles had been at large and the police were in search of him. On Tuesday, around 8.30 AM, Charles threw himself before the Palakkad-Tiruchy train at North Coimbatore Railway Station.

Though he was immediately rushed to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH), doctors could not save his life. The condition of Lakshmi was said to be critical.

The lower part of her body was not functioning and her kidneys were totally damaged, police sources said.

Lakshmi, daughter of Maarathal, belonged to Karattumedu near Mettupalayam. Her father Mariappan died in 2001. She has a sister Chithra (10) and brother Aruchamy (5).

Pastor Charles had approached Maarathal a year ago and told her about the orphanage for poor children. He assured her children free education, accommodation, clothing and food at the orphanage.

Maarathal, who was struggling to make both ends meet, agreed to send Lakshmi and Chithra to the orphanage. Later, she used to visit her children quite often. Both the girls stayed there for a year.

Lakshmi attained puberty in November last and Charles told Maarathal to take her home. A few days after the girl returned home, she developed urinary problems and her health began to deteriorate fast.

She was admitted to the Mettupalayam Government Hospital. The doctors found that her kidneys had been damaged and the lower part of her body had slowly begun to stop functioning.

She was later taken to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for treatment. Only then, Lakshmi told her mother that pastor Charles had been sexually abusing her. Charles had been giving her contraceptive pills.

Maarathal lodged a complaint with the Karamadai police on Sunday. As the pastor was said to be in Chennai, the police filed a case and spread a net for him.

After the pastor's suicide, the Railway police have filed a case and are investigating. The incident was reported to the Karamadai police, who were in search of him.

Pastor Charles was a native of Ernakulam, Kerala. He was married to Vijaya and had been living in Coonoor. He had two sons, Ditto and Daniel. Vijaya was taking care of a prayer house at Mettupalayam while Charles was running the orphanage.

A few years ago, he started the orphanage at Karattumedu and then shifted to Mongampalayam on the Annur-Mettupalayam road.