Tura, March 17, 2019: Meghalaya police have arrested a Catholic priest for allegedly molesting a woman on the night bus while returning from the state capital of Shillong.
According to the North Garo Hills police, Fransalian Father Biju Joseph was caught and roughed up by the passengers of a night bus after the victim raised an alarm.
As the incident took place in Assam, the passengers waited until they reached Meghalaya before handing him over to the police at Bajengdoba, March 15 night.
The accused priest belonged to the Guwahati province of the Missionaries of St. Francis De Sales (MSFS) congregation. He is currently based at SFS School in Nangalbibra, and serves Sumonpara Parish in South Garo Hills district.
According to the complaint filed by the passengers, the accused was coming from Shillong to Tura on Friday night when he allegedly tried to hold the hand of a female fellow passenger seated next to him. The incident allegedly took place after the bus left Paikan a little after midnight, where a dinner stop is made.
The victim, a 27-year-old woman, raised an alarm when the priest allegedly tried to touch her after which fellow passengers came to her rescue.
The angry passengers even slapped the accused before handing him over to the police.
(Source: thenortheastindiatoday.com)