Girl speaks up, imam faces rape charge

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 15-year-old girl who is involved in the Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act case against Tholicode Muslim Jama-ath former chief imam Shafeek Al Qasimi has given a statement to police and Childline authorities that the cleric had raped her multiple times. A medical examination at SAT Hospital for Women and Children late on Wednesday night confirmed the statement.
The investigation team on Thursday altered the first information report and added sections pertaining to rape and penetrative sexual assault under the IPC and Pocso Act. Police had invoked only sections 7 and 8 of the Pocso Act, pertaining to sexual contact without penetration, while registering the case on the basis of Jama-ath president Badusha's statement. The girl also recorded her confidential statement in connection with the case before a local magistrate on Thursday.
Imam located in Ernakulam: Police
DSP (crime branch, rural district) D Asokan, the investigation officer, said Qasimi would be taken into custody soon. “We have located him in Ernakulam, where he is trying to file an anticipatory bail plea before the high court. The courts generally do not entertain such pleas in Pocso Act cases and we have taken measures to keep him under surveillance till our team reaches there,” he said.
A group of Kudumbashree workers had confronted the imam a week ago at a deserted location near Peppara forest where he had taken the girl reportedly from her school in his car. The Jama-ath committee conducted a probe based on the information provided by the women and expelled him from the post. He was also suspended by the All India Imam’s Council.
Police had reportedly been waiting for the girl or her family to give a statement against Qasimi, who managed to flee from the spot. The delay in police action invited criticism, following which state police chief Loknath Behera intervened.