Nun rape case:Kerala catholic organisations stage demo against

: Members of various Catholic reformation organisations took to the streets here Saturday to protest the alleged laxity in the probe into a complaint of rape filed by a nun against a Roman Catholic church bishop.

Five nuns from a convent in Kottayam, to which the victim belonged, also took part in the demonstration and alleged that she had been denied justice by the church, police and the government as no action has been initiated against the accused, Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Jalandhar diocese.

"We are fighting for our sister. She has been denied justice by the Church, government and the police. We are ready to go to any extent for ensuring justice to our sister," a nun told protesters here, who held placards demanding arrest of Bishop Franco.

She sought to know why Bishop Franco has not been arrested despite sufficient evidence against him and also questioned the Church's stand on the matter.

"Seventy-four days have passed since the complaint was made against Bishop Franco. The police recorded her statements several times. But the accused bishop was interrogated only once," the nun said.

The nuns alleged that police probing the case were trying to sabotage the investigation.

Catholic reformation organisations, including the Kerala Catholic Church Reformation Movement (KCRM), took part in the protest, KCRM office bearer George Joseph said
Fr Paul Thelakkatt, a former spokesperson of the Syro Malabar Church, urged the church authorities "to listen to the grievances of nuns who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of Jesus."