Authorities in Pakistan have arrested a cleric and his associate for allegedly molesting and filming four minors in a mosque in Punjab province, said a media report. Police claimed they had been doing it for three years. 

“The suspects were appointed at the same mosque. The matter remained hushed up for the last three years, during which they repeatedly perpetrated the crime against multiple victims” Dawn quoted police officials as saying. Among the victims were four girls and a boy. 

The incident came to light when differences emerged between the two suspects following which one of them approached police and revealed the recordings. 

Later, when the police approached one of the victims, he revealed that he had been molested five times by the cleric and his associate. The victims had been asked to remain silent and were threatened with leaking their video, police revealed. 

During preliminary investigation, one of them confessed to having molested four minor girls aged between six and nine years.

“We have sent DNA samples to the forensic lab. We have also recovered 10 videos from the accused and also confiscated memory cards. Forensic examination of the videos will be conducted,” Mohammad Ashraf, the district police officer, was quoted as saying by Dawn.