Ernakulam rural police said the
accused, Fr Edwin Figarez, is a 41-year-old member of the Kottappuram
Catholic diocese. After the police registered the case two days back,
Figarez had gone into hiding.
The
police said the minor girl had been exploited several times since
January. The last incident was on March 28. The girl revealed the trauma
to her family a few days back, after which her mother complained to the
police.
Police sources said
Figarez is active in the field of Christian devotional songs and has
several compositions to his credit. He allegedly lured the girl
exploiting her interest in music.
The
spokesman of the Kottapuram diocese was not available for comment. A
receptionist at the Bishop’s House said all priests were engaged in the
observance of the Passion Week.
Last
May, a young Catholic priest of Thrissur diocese had been arrested on
charges of raping a nine-year-old girl. Fr Raju Kokkan had lured the
girl from a poor family promising her a new dress for her Holy
Communion.
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