Jammu: Christian Missionary Arrested For Running Illegal Orphanage And Sexually Abusing Girls 

Jammu and Kashmir police arrested a Christian Missionary from Kerala, for illegally operating an orphanage and sexually abusing girls, reports Indian Express.

Twenty children, including eight girls, were rescued and the administration is searching for their parents, said Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) Jitender Mishra.

According to Mishra, following a complaint from a local resident, Kathua Deputy Commissioner Rohit Khajuria had, set up a five-member team from various departments to inspect the orphanage in a densely populated area of Kathua town.

The team operating with the police found that the orphanage was being run by the missionary without permission. On questioning, the organisation claimed to be affiliated with an NGO named Pentecostal Mission. However, the NGO denied having any link with the orphanage, Mishra said.

The team members spoke to the children living there, and they complained of being kept in confinement and threatened by the missionary and his wife. The Missionary was identified to be Antony Paster, he said.

The girls complained of sexual harassment, Mishra said. Antony was subsequently arrested.