Kerala: Imam booked for sexually harassing 15-year-old girl

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After a week of delay, the police have finally registered a case against former chief imam of Tholicode Jama Ath, Shafeek Al Qasimi, on charges of sexually harassing a 15-year-old-girl.
The case has been registered by Vithura police invoking relevant sections of the POCSO Act. Qasimi is accused of sexually harassing the girl who also happened to be his neighbour, after picking her up from school and taking to a deserted spot near forest at Tholicode.
It was a week ago when Qasimi was confronted by a group of women working under Kudumbashree scheme, when the former arrived at a deserted forest land with the girl in his car. Qasimi claimed that the girl was his wife. It was later revealed that he picked up the girl from her school and brought her to the spot.
The police could not register a case immediately as the girl refused to give her statement against the imam. Her family too took a stance supporting the imam.
The police then sought Child Welfare Committee's help. The CWC held a hearing and ordered to shift the girl to a shelter home of the Social Justice Department as there was a chance that the girl was under the influence of her family, who were apparently in support of the imam. Despite several counseling sessions, the girl is not yet ready to give her statement.
"We have now registered the case on the basis of a complaint filed by Jama Ath Committee president Badusha. The committee had conducted an inquiry and found out that there was merit in the allegations against him. Following this, he was expelled from the Jama Ath. The All India Imam's Council too suspended him.
Qasimi, who had sped away from the crime scene a week ago, is still at large.
Childline authorities said that the girl still continues to be in the shelter home. She is a Class 10 student and her model exams ahead of the board exams were going on. On Monday, the Childline authorities took her to the school for the examination and brought her back to the shelter home.