OCHIRA: Following the arrest of a prominent religious preacher for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl, the police have received preliminary indications that the accused may have exploited more minor girls. The accused, identified as Muhammad Niyaz Jauhari, director of the Habibiyya Islamic Academy in Ochira, was arrested after the minor girl formally lodged a complaint against him. The police have invoked stringent provisions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant sections for rape against the suspect, who reportedly commands a social media following of nearly five lakh users across various platforms.
According to the police, the accused summoned the minor girl and her paternal grandmother under the pretext of performing exorcism rituals to rid the grandmother of evil spirits. The victim was subsequently subjected to sexual abuse both at the accused’s rented residence and inside the academy premises. The alleged incidents took place between October and November 2025. The matter came to light after the girl confided in her friends, prompting the police to record her detailed statement and initiate criminal proceedings.
The arrest was executed by a police team supervised by Karunagappally ACP R. Vinod Kumar, comprising CI G. Gopakumar, Ochira SHO Shameer, SI Venugopal, and Senior Civil Police Officers Suresh and Deepu.
For more details: Navamalayalam.com