THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police has issued a lookout notice against former chief Imam of the Tholicode Jama Ath Shafeek Al Qasimi, accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl. The police said he is absconding. A search has been intensified following information that he may try for an anticipatory bail. The police had the other day conducted a search at his native place in Erattupetta. The police via his Imam’s advocate has asked him to surrender at the earliest.

Meantime, a section of the locals had alleged that there was a delay from the side of the police in registering a case against him. The locals are planning to stage a protest march to the police station if he is not nabbed soon. It has also been alleged that the delay in arrest is for getting him an anticipatory bail.

The incident happened on February 2nd. The imam is accused of picking up the girl, known to him, from school and sexually abusing her at a deserted spot near the forest at Tholicode. He was confronted by a group of Kudumbashree workers when he arrived at the secluded spot with the girl in his car. He claimed that the girl was his wife. It was later revealed that he picked her up from school. The police could not immediately register a case as the girl refused to give a statement against him. A case was registered on the complaint of Tholicode Muslim Jama Ath committee president Badusha.