Temple priest held for sexual assault on minor boys

Kozhikode: Vadakara police on Tuesday arrested a temple priest in connection with the alleged sexual assault of two minor siblings. The accused has been identified as Sampath, 36, a native of Karunagappally in Kollam district. He was arrested in Bengaluru, where he had been hiding, police said.The victims are brothers aged 12 and six. According to police, the accused became acquainted with the children's mother during a train journey after she got separated from her husband. The woman later lived with the accused at various places. During this period, the children were allegedly subjected to sexual assault.The children told police that the accused also inflicted physical injuries using a hot iron box and pins and threatened them with dire consequences if they revealed about the assault.On knowing about the assault, the woman approached Vadakara police with the children and filed a complaint, following which the accused went into hiding. Police tracked him to Bengaluru and arrested him while he was allegedly attempting to flee to New Delhi. Police said the accused had earlier worked as a priest at some temples in Vadakara and nearby areas. The complaint was registered on Jan 16. He was produced before the Vadakara judicial first class magistrate court and remanded in judicial custody.