TN pastor nabbed from Kerala for sexual assault on minor girls
Coimbatore, Apr 13 (PTI): A 37-year-old pastor has been arrested by a special team for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls last year, the police said on Sunday.
John Jebaraj, a pastor at the Kings Generation Church here was picked up from Kerala's Idukki district by the special team of the Central Gandhipuram All Women Police Station and was brought to Coimbatore, police sources said.
"He has been arrested under POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences). He was in Kerala," a senior police official told PTI.
According to the police, he allegedly assaulted the two girls at a function in his residence last year.
While the incident did not come to light then, one of the family members of the victims who recently came to know about it, informed the police, they added.
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Bhatkal community distributed over 1.2 lakh kilos of rice to needy families ahead of Eid
Bhatkal: Ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, residents of Bhatkal and surrounding areas had distributed over 1.2 lakh kilograms of rice to economically disadvantaged families. The distribution formed part of the annual Fitra initiative coordinated by the Central Fitra Committee, which has been overseeing this programme for the past four decades.
In 2025, the campaign covered 1,859 families across towns and villages including Bhatkal, Honnavar, Kumta, Ankola, and Shirur. According to Maulana Mohammed Ilyas Jakati Nadwi, convener of the committee, 58 distribution zones were established to manage the process efficiently.
The initiative was supported by contributions from the Bhatkali diaspora in Gulf countries, who have regularly sent Fitra donations during Ramadan.
Most families received approximately 50 kilograms of rice, while larger households and those with disabled members were provided up to 100 kilograms. For the fourth year, the distribution included five kilograms of Basmati rice per family.
The campaign also reached the Sharavathi region, covering villages such as Gersuppa, Herangadi, and Saralgi, which have been included in recent years.
Local volunteers, youth groups, and religious organisations facilitated the distribution, which aimed to address essential needs and encourage community support.
Following the distribution, a review meeting was held at Mohkama Shariah Hall, organised by Cosmos Sports Center. The meeting was attended by representatives from Gulf-based Bhatkali Jamaats, local NGOs, scholars, and members of religious and educational institutions. Discussions focused on improving logistics, expanding outreach, and maintaining transparency in future campaigns.
