Kerala bishop says nun targeting him for action taken
Kottayam, June 30: A Kerala bishop accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a Catholic nun has countered that the allegation was brought by the latter only to target him for taking action against her.
The Kottayam district police on Saturday launched investigations into both allegations.
The Catholic nun from here had alleged that her superior -- Franco Mulakkal, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar, Punjab, had sexually abused her 14 times.
But Mulakkal told the media on Saturday that trouble started in 2016 when he took up a complaint against her and took it to its logical conclusion.
"When I took up the complaint against her, the harassment started from her end and it has continued unabated since then -- with allegations against me," said the bishop, who has now also filed a complaint with the police.
Countering Mulakkal's claim, the nun, however told the media that very soon she would reveal how she was exploited for over two years beginning 2014.
The police is expected to record fresh statements of both the parties.
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
