UDHAGAMANDALAM: A priest from Kottayam was arrested and remanded in judicial custody in Devala near Gudalur in Nilgiris, on Tuesday, for allegedly posing as a police officer and persuading adhivasis, members of a tribal community, to convert to Christianity.

The accused, K Shymon P Paul, 38, of Koladi in Kottayam, had been residing in Nelliyalam near Devala for the past few years. He belonged to the Nelliyalam branch of Gospel in Action Fellowship in India, according to police.

Paul was found wearing the uniform of a sub-inspector on Monday. On enquiry by Devala police, it was found that he had been posing as a police officer to persuade hoteliers and bus conductors to give him free food, accommodation and transport services.

He also had a fake ID card claiming he was a police officer, part of the Tamil Nadu special task force, a Devala police official on the case said. His bank passbook has a picture of him dressed as a sub-inspector.

Posing as a policeman, he also attempted to convert the local tribals to Christianity, police said.

The Devala police registered a case against Paul under IPC sections 419, 420, 468 and 471 for cheating and fraud. He was arrested on Monday.

“After a thorough enquiry he has been remanded in judicial custody on Tuesday,” said the police officer.

