By Matters India Reporter

Kannur: Five Catholic nuns are among eight people booked for covering up an alleged sex abuse of a minor girl by a priest.

The police have registered the case under the non-bailable sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Juvenile Justice Act.

This was revealed on March 4 by Sunil Kumar, Circle Inspector of Peraoor in Kannur district who heads the probe team.

The main accused Father Mathew (Robin) Vadakkumcherry has been lodged in the sub jail of Tellicherry near Kannur town after his arrest on February 28. He is accused of impregnating a 16-year-old school girl who gave birth to a baby boy on February 7. The priest was the manager of the school where the girl studied and the pastor of St Sebastian’s Church in Kottiyoor, a parish under Mananthavady Syro-Malabar diocese.

The nuns accused in the cover-up case are Sisters Tessy Jose and Ancy Mathew, who are doctors in Christu Raja Hospital at Koothuparamba in Kannur district where the girl delivered the child. The police have also booked Hyder Ali, another doctor in the hospital.

Other accused nuns are Sisters Anice, Ophilia and Lissy Maria who work in an orphanage in Vythiri in neighboring Manantavady district.

Meanwhile Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the Syro-Malabar Church, on March 4 admitted the priest had committed a grave offense and that steps would be taken no such incidents occurred in future. The prelate also told reporters in Kochi, Kerala’s commercial capital, that the Church would not try to protect the guilty.

Earlier Bishop Jose Porunnedom of Mananthavady had apologized to the girl and her family to society. His February 28 letter addressed to the parishioners of Kottiyoor termed the priest’s action as a serious scandal that was painful and hurting.

Kerala’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare K K Shailaja has promised to take serious action against a priest and nun of Mananthavady diocese who were members of the Child Welfare Committee in Wayanad.

The case took a turn when the police team, who had gone to the Koothuparamba hospital and the orphanage to arrest those book, returned empty handed. A police officer told television channels that they were told the nuns have gone away for treatment or spiritual retreat.

The second accused is a lay woman, Thankamma Nelliyani, a member of the Kottiyoor parish, who is also absconding.

The police team has submitted a report on the cover-up to the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Kannur district police superintendent. The report recommends action against them for concealing details of the newborn from the authorities.

The offence came to light after the eleventh grade girl, a resident of Neendunokki, delivered.

Fr Vadakkumcherry had attended a public program on February 25 and left the place the next day, after police lodged a case against him. He was picked up from Chalakkudy in Thrissur district while allegedly trying to escape from the country.