Shillong, Oct 19, 2018: A woman in Meghalaya on October 19 named two Catholic Brothers in a #MeToo campaign and alleging that they had sexually abused her many years ago.

The 40-year-old woman, who had attempted suicide thrice in the past, has in her Facebook post accused Christian Brother Francis Gale and Salesian Brother Muscat of sexually abusing her since she was a 5-year-old.

The victim, who overcame her suicidal tendency three years ago through counseling, said her poor family background often made the ideal profile of a victim to the sexual predators in the Church.

She alleged Br Gale started sexually abusing her when she was a five-year-old and her most trusted family member had slapped and rebuked her on hearing her story.

The abuse continued until she turned 12, when she started menstruating. She had then mustered the courage to refuse to meet him as she was afraid she would get pregnant, the woman said in her post.

The accused is now based in West Bengal.

Br Muscat, the second one named by the woman in her post, is posted in Shillong.

She alleged he would abuse his victims under the pretext of giving them sweets and toffees kept in a huge desk.

“He would call victims to his side of the table (while the accompanying adults are on the other side). While we did (choose toffees from the drawers), he would slide his hands up our thighs,” she said.

She said she did not speak to anyone about the abuse by Br Muscat because of the larger abuse she faced from Br Gale.

“The #MeToo has triggered a lot of distress but it also brings me hope and belief that justice will come,” the victim said in her post.

She said, “I do hope that in some small way my story will make perpetrators feel less empowered to abuse with impunity.”

The woman said the reason for her to come and speak up now was to also try and support victims of similar crimes or connect them to counselors and growing list of supporters.

When contacted, she told PTI that she had spoken to lawyers. “But at the moment coming out and going public has come at a huge cost. All I want is to support and listen to people of their stories.”

(India.com)