0 
0 WARNING: This article contains details of allegations of abuse.
A Roman Catholic priest has been arrested in connection with the sexual assault of an eight-year-old girl in Little Grand Rapids First Nation, Manitoba RCMP say.
Arul Savari, 48, is charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, sexual exploitation of a young person, luring a child and forcible confinement.
He remains in custody, Supt. Scott McMurchy, Manitoba acting criminal operations officer, said at a news conference on Tuesday.
McMurchy said the girl was alone with the priest, after he’d asked her to help him clean the church, when he allegedly touched her inappropriately.
“She said and told our investigators that when she tried to leave, he forced her to remain in the building,” he said.
When the girl was able to leave, she ran home and told her mom, who reported the incident to police, McMurchy said.
RCMP in the remote community about 265 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg received the report on Saturday, a news release said.
McMurchy said additional possible victims have been identified, and investigators believe there may be more. Savari also provided religious services to nearby Pauingassi First Nation.
He would not specify how many other possible victims have been identified, but said his understanding is there is a “religious connection” with all of them.
“We do not wish to traumatize or further traumatize the young victim by sharing her experience in such a public manner,” he said. “However, we believe that other children may have been harmed in a similar way.”
Savari, who is originally from India and lives in Winnipeg, has been in Canada for six years and served in Little Grand Rapids for the same amount of time, McMurchy said. He serves the Catholic Church under the Archbishop of St. Boniface.
McMurchy said as far as RCMP are aware, Savari only served on those two First Nations while in Canada.
Anyone with information or who wishes to make a report related to Savari is asked to call RCMP in Little Grand Rapids at 204-397-2249 or visit the community’s detachment in person, McMurchy said.
Support is available for anyone who has been sexually assaulted. You can access crisis lines and local support services through this Government of Canada website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.
