A Catholic priest has been arrested in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh for allegedly abetting the suicide of a 17-year-old girl, the police said on Sunday. The accused was identified as Father Prakash Damor (33).

The suicide note of the girl, who allegedly hanged herself at her house on January 4, stated that Damor was pressurising her to marry him, said Inspector Kailash Chauhan of Ranapur police station. “We arrested him under IPC section 306 (abetment to suicide) and also under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act on January 15,” Mr. Chauhan said.

The accused had first met the girl at a missionary school where she was studying in Class XI, the police officer said.

Damor was produced before a court the same day and was remanded in judicial custody.