Kochi, July 7: The Kerala Police on Sunday arrested a priest for "sexually assaulting" minors. The 40-year-old accused, whose identity was yet to be confirmed, is accused of forcibly having sex with children at a boys' home based in Perumbadom, located close to Kochi.

The case came to light after some of the victims escaped from the boys' home last night and rushed towards a local and narrated their plight. On their request, the local person allowed the minors to use his phone. They informed their parents and subsequently the police was alerted. Kerala Priest Held Guilty of Raping and Impregnating Minor, Sentenced to 20 Years in Jail

A preliminary investigation by the police has revealed that the priest was sexually assaulting the inmates since December 2018.

The FIR against him was registered based on the complaints of the father of a couple of minors who escaped from the boys' home.

Other inmates are also expected to register their statements against the priest, who coerced them into silence over the last six months.

The priest was produced before a magisterial court, which has granted the investigators a 14-day police custody. The accused will be rigorously interrogated to extract more details in the case. He has been booked under section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, along with the relevant provisions of Juvenile Justice Act and Prevention of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 07, 2019 01:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).