Pathanamthitta: An orthodox church priest was on Thursday arrested on charges of sexually abusing a minor girl at Koodal in Pathanamthitta district.

Pondson John (35), the vicar of Koodal parish, was arrested for sexually abusing the 17-year-old girl as her parents sent her to him for counselling.

The girl was taken to the priest to counsel her as she was distracted from her studies.

The accused misbehaved with her twice at two different locations on March 12 and 13, police said.

The first incident took place at the church. As the girl refused to go to the church the next day, the priest went to her home at 10.30 pm. He took the girl inside a room, closed the door and misbehaved with her.

The police said the girl refused to go for counselling on the second day as she was traumatised with the experience of the previous night.

After the second incident, the victim told a friend, who informed the school authorities, they added. The school authorities complained to the Child Line through whom the police was informed and the priest was arrested.