Kalpetta: The police arrested Wayanad district coordinator of Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM) Sijo George, 23, Thaiparambil House, Cherukattoor near Mananthavadi, for raping a minor girl who gave birth to a baby at a private hospital in Kozhikode on December 28.
The KCYM is the youth movement of the diocese. The incident came to light when the youth tried to commit suicide.
The new-born was admitted secretly to an orphanage adjacent to a convent, according to police. The accused lured the girl, an active worker of KCYM who had bagged A+ in all subjects, in his capacity as the KCYM district coordinator. She was admitted to a private hospital in Kozhikode to hide the pregnancy.
The accused also extended financial support to the family for her delivery and promised to marry her by the time she turned 18.
The police took the youth into custody when he tried to commit suicide after his kith and kin protested against the marriage.
The women's cell circle inspector registered the statement of the victim. The police slapped sections of POCSO Act and juvenile justice Act against the accused. However, the KCYM in a press release claimed that Sijo was the former coordinator who was removed from the post.
