Express News Service By

CHENNAI: A woman preacher was arrested on Monday after she allegedly branded a five-year-old boy attending her Sunday class at a slum in Erukkancherry.

Sources said Jesse (34) of Indra Nagar in Erukkancherry used to conduct scripture class in her neighbourhood every Sunday. A five-year-old boy who was also part of the study group is said to have verbally abused the woman. Enraged, Jesse beat up the boy with a ruler and also branded him.

After the boy reported the matter to his parents, his father lodged a complaint with the Kodungaiyur police.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the woman was a member of the Apostolic Christian Mission. “She had beaten up the boy. The boy had swelling in his hands. The woman also admitted that she had beaten him because of the verbal abuse the boy hurled on her,” said a senior police official.