Monk held for sodomising minor in Bengal

The chief monk of a math (monastery) in West Bengal was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy, police said on Tuesday.

The incident came to light on Monday when the child, who was living in the math at Jalpaiguri for the past two years, managed to escape.

He told his mother about the ordeal, who then contacted an NGO.

"We arrested the monk on Monday on the basis of a complaint filed by Childline. Two other juveniles also allegedly used to sodomise the victim. They have been sent to child welfare board for further action," a police official said.

"The boy comes from a very poor family and lived in the math for the past two years. Yesterday he managed to escape and after his mother contacted us, we filed a police complaint," Childline centre coordinator Subarna Mitra said.

The victim is now under Childline's care.

"The monk would call the boy into his room in the night and used to sodomise him regularly. Compounding his ordeal, two other boys used to brutalise him after he returned to the dormitory. We are providing him counselling to overcome the trauma," added Mitra.