12-year-old molested by priest

A 12-year-old girl was allegedly

molested by a temple priest at Bateshwar town here, police said today.

The girl, who sells wood-apple (belpatra) leaves near the temple, was allegedly lured to a lonely place and molested by the priest yesterday, police said.

The priest has been identified as Ajit Goswami.

The girl, however, managed to escape from the clutches of the priest and inform her parents, who along with locals gathered in front of the temple.

The priest fled the spot and an investigation is on, said police.