Kerala nun rape case: Catholic organisations stage demonstration against ‘police inaction’


Kochi, Sep 8 (PTI): Members of various catholic reformation organisations took to the streets in Kochi Saturday to protest the alleged laxity in the probe into a complaint of rape filed by a nun against a Roman Catholic church bishop.

Five nuns from a convent in Kottayam, to which the victim belonged, also took part in the demonstration and alleged that the victim had been denied justice by the church, police and the government as no action has been initiated against accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar diocese.

“We are fighting for our sister. She has been denied justice by the Church, government and the police. We are ready to go to any extent for ensuring justice to our sister,” a nun told protesters here, who held placards demanding arrest of Bishop Franco.

She sought to know why Bishop Franco has not been arrested despite sufficient evidence against him and also questioned the Church’s stand on the matter. “Seventy-four days have passed since the complaint was made against Bishop Franco. The police recorded her statements several times. But the accused bishop was interrogated only once,” the nun said.

They alleged that the police probing the case was trying to sabotage the investigation.

Catholic reformation organisations, including Kerala Catholic Church Reformation Movement (KCRM), took part in the protest, KCRM office bearer George Joseph said, adding some organisations, including KCRM, were planning to continue the stir till justice is delivered in the case.

In her complaint filed at Kuravilangad Police Station, the victim had alleged that she had received death threats from unknown people two months ago. The nun has accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco of raping and having unnatural sex with her multiple times between 2014 and 2016.

A special team probing the case has said according to preliminary investigation, Bishop Franco abused his position and repeatedly raped the nun. Responding to a petition seeking speedy probe, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kottayam, K Subhash had informed the Kerala High Court on August 13 that the probe was proceeding effectively and impartially.

The police, in a statement based on initial investigation and available evidence, had said it was found that the Bishop allegedly committed unnatural offence and raped the nun against her will. In the statement, it was alleged that the bishop confined the nun to a guest room in St Francis Mission Home in Kuravilangad in Kottayam district of Kerala.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Katapadi/Bangalore

    Sun, Sep 09 2018

    Rape is a criminal act should not be treated leniently by the government.

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Thomas Andrade, Toronto

    Sun, Sep 09 2018

    DW readers are questioning why the nun kept quiet for two years. Just because she kept quiet for long, it does not mean that she is equally responsible for the act or she is willingly involved in it. She is an Indian woman and all the rape victims in India don't complain for various reasons. It's only recently rape victims started to complain and that too only a miniscule percentage of women are complaining. She was raped by a bishop and I think she must have thought nobody would believe her if she complains against him. It’s only when she could not take it anymore, she chose to complain. He is a bishop, more responsible person, he has to maintain the priestly celibacy. If he is just there to preach and not to practice what he preaches, then he is unfit to be a bishop.
    It’s very common in our country that influential persons can get off scot-free. If police don't take action against the bishop means they are heavily bribed. I don't see any other reason for their inaction.

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • El En Tea, Mumbai

    Sun, Sep 09 2018

    2 years ....
    Is she pregnant or abortef
    No one raise this point

    DisAgree [2] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mangalurian, Mangaluru

    Sun, Sep 09 2018

    As I have said before, the nun came up with various stories only after the bishop ordered her transfer a few months ago.

    And she claims all this happened between 2014 and 2016.

    Not many believe her stories, as there is no substance to them.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • anthony, Mangalore

    Sat, Sep 08 2018

    It is better to avoid trial by the media in such cases and let the Police do their job. Obviously there is no concrete eveidence in the allegations that have been levelled after a gap of long time if not mknths and years if earlier reports are to be believed.

    DisAgree [12] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Sep 08 2018

    Well Planned ...

    DisAgree [18] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • El En Tea, Mumbai

    Sat, Sep 08 2018

    Sex with multiple times in 2 years
    No one can clap in one hand
    Both are agreed to clap so it's not a Rape
    Coercion agreement but not by force.
    Even Judge will ask the same question
    And we Fool protesting on unwanted issue. That too after the Kerala natural disaster.

    DisAgree [16] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh, Udupi

    Sun, Sep 09 2018

    Ok. Thats why in desert cults, rape victim is stoned to death bcz its her mistake?
    Disgusting.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • John Tauro, M'luru / Kwt

    Sun, Sep 09 2018

    What do you mean by unwanted issue? The alleged crime has been committed by the head of a religion not by a road romeo. Why there is hue and cry, violent protests when politicians are involved in crimes? Because these people have responsibility to the public, who look to them as role models.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Truth, Mangalore

    Sat, Sep 08 2018

    All of them are believers. Now whom they are protesting against? God?
    When there are prayers why protest. Pray that the police take action against Bishop. Pray that the victim get justice.
    But before praying just give thought to why God allowed that happen?

    DisAgree [18] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • John Tauro, M'luru / Kwt

    Sat, Sep 08 2018

    What kind of Truth are you talking about? They are protesting against police inaction and delay in justice. The victim has a right to seek justice and ensure the guilty is punished. But why do you blame God here? God has bestowed man with a gift called “wisdom” which animals don’t possess. It means a sensible person has the ability to discern good and bad, right and wrong. In His Holy Word God has clearly mentioned about the good and evil deeds, right and wrong actions and accordingly instructed man what to do and what not to do. He has laid down certain laws and instructions breaking which is called sin. And above all God has given freedom to man do use one’s wisdom according to his will. So, on what basis you say God allowed such shameful act to happen?

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • JOHN, mangalore/kuwait

    Sat, Sep 08 2018

    it is mentioned,The nun has accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco of raping and having unnatural sex with her multiple times between 2014 and 2016.
    if it was not her will why she kept quiet for long time.?she must have cooperated earlier and when she failed to get her demands she turned this matter to rape!!! very smart nun.
    she doesnt know the meaning of rape!!
    rape takes place only once and cannot keep secret, here she has been raped multiple times. then how could it be a rape? why she waited from 2014 till 2016?
    goernment knows this thatswhy this story may be fabricated to defame bishop.
    it reminds me the song of pb srinivas beda nambabeda jeeva hoadaroo hengasarannu nambabeda!!!

    DisAgree [14] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anil, Mangalore

    Sat, Sep 08 2018

    Aare you are crucifying her even before knowing the facts . These people are so powerful that they would have threatened the poor Nun. These Nuns come from poor backgrounds so I am sure out of fear she has kept quiet all this while . Poor thing - must have become a torchure and unbearable for her . I hope Justice will be blind !!!!

    DisAgree [5] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • John, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 09 2018

    Anil I am not crucifying her.. as per u they are influential people so she scared if she scared why now protest? There will be a threat for her if they are powerful people. I remember still in 1982 I joined a typing institute in Kulasekar as my father couldn’t arrange for fees on time I asked some time to pay fees. As I was alone among 15 girls a nun from Kerala started to embarrass me. She was teaching accounts and head of the department. left my course halfway and joined government I TI where they give stipend.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Sep 08 2018

    No one is above the Law ...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Kerala nun rape case: Catholic organisations stage demonstration against ‘police inaction’



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.