Kottayam, June 2: A 63-year-old madrassa teacher was arrested by the police after a mosque committee accused him of sexually abusing several children for the past two years. The accused, identified as Yusuf, is a resident of Aluva and was employed at a local mosque in Thalayolaparambu in Kerala's Kottayam for the last two years. The madrassa teacher would hold long prayers and give speeches so that nobody could ever raise doubt on his character.

Yusuf was exposed two weeks ago when he abused a young boy on pretext of teaching him the Holy Quran in his private room. When the victim returned home, his parents noticed a change in his behaviour and inquired about it. The visibly disturbed boy then narrated his ordeal. The parents immediately complained to the mosque authorities who fired the accused and then filed a complaint with the local police. Andhra Pradesh Horror: 2 Missing Boys Found Dead Inside Wooden Box in School.

Suspecting his arrest, Yusuf fled and took shelters in different mosques in Thrissur and Palakkad. The Thalayolaparambu police finally nabbed him from Kodungallur on May 27. The exact number of children Yusuf abused was not confirmed. The police were in touch with the mosque authorities to see if more students would speak up. Upon his arrest, Yusuf claimed that he too is a victim of child abuse, reported The News Minute. Mentally-Challenged Minor Tortured, Relatives Hang Brick From Private Part as Punishment.

Yusuf told the police that his first victim, a girl, was the daughter of a man who had sexually abused him. He said that he had committed the crime as an act of revenge. "He told us that he continued to abuse young children after this and did not stop as he was never caught. We believe he may have abused at least 19 children and we are yet to probe the case deeper," a police officer was quoted as saying.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 02, 2019 03:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).