Father Francis Fernandes, a church priest was detained in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district for allegedly abusing a minor at a college in which he was teaching, as reported by news agency ANI. According to the Shivamogga police, he was charged under POCSO. The Father was produced before the court and sent for 14 days of judicial custody, the police said.
After the incident came to light, the members of the Banjara community staged a protest outside police station in Shivamogga against church priest for allegedly sexually abusing the minor belonging to their community.