The church where the Suryanelli sex scandal victim' s family offers prayers has said they were welcome "anytime they wish to come" while rejecting allegations by the victim's mother that they have been barred from entering the church. "The Catholic church is for the poor. We will open our church anytime they (the victim's family) wish to come. The (TV) reports that say otherwise are wrong," Xavier Mammootil, parish vicar of the St. Francis Xavier's Church, Kurichy, said on Friday. According to some TV reports, the victim's mother has alleged that the church authorities have barred their entry into the church. "The church authorities told us that the case (scandal) is attracting media attention and till everything subsides, we should keep away from the church," the victim's mother told a TV news channel here. The victim does not go to the church, but her parents go there every week. "Once a week visit to the church gives us lot of solace. For the past two weeks we are going to another church," she added. The sex scandal took place at Suryanelli in Idukki district January 1996, when the then 16-year-old was threatened, abducted and abused by a bus conductor and was later confined and sexually assaulted for 45 days by 42 men. The case was back in the spotlight after the Supreme Court ordered a retrial in the case Jan 31 while setting aside the acquittal in 2005 by the Kerala High Court of all but one of the 35 accused convicted by a special court. Since 2005, the victim and her parents and sister have moved out from Suryanelli in Idukki district and are living near Kurichy in Kottayam district. Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/suryanelli-sex-scandal-kerala-church-rejects-allegations/1/257050.html

Director Kabir Khan is keeping his fingers crossed hoping that his blockbuster project Ek Tha Tiger, which was premiered here today, is accepted by the Japanese audience and proves to be a success as it was in India.
The Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif starrer is the first Bollywood movie to be released in Japan on such a large scale, with a total of 30 prints. Other movies like Don 2, 3 Idiots and Jab Tak Hai Jaan will also be released here.
The screening saw a large number of Japanese people in attendance and a few Indians. There was continuous cheer and hooting from the audience during the screening, showing their excitement.
"It is a dream come true to show my movie in Japan.
Earlier Hindi movies have been released here but with 2-3 prints. This is the first time a Bollywood movie is being treated like a Japanese film. I am honoured to enter the Japanese market and I hope audience here enjoys the movie," Kabir said.
The movie was a success in India and made over 100 crores. Kabir added that he is lucky to have got such a response world wide and is anxious to see the reaction from Japan.
The film is being released here in collaboration with Nikkatsu studios, a leading production house in Japan. It will be screened in nine major cities of Japan including Osaka, Kyoto, Sapporo and Kobe.
Kabir has been here for the past four days promoting the movie but said he is here more to enjoy the food and the screening is just an added advantage.
"I am here to eat and enjoy Japanese food... I love it.
Movie screening is a side effect. I have been promoting the movie all over and I completely love the culture here. People are so humble and considerate."
On the film's lead actor's absence, Kabir said, "Salman is in Dubai from where he is flying for his treatment and Katrina also has other commitments. But they are both very happy about the premiere."
The director is also looking for locations in Japan to shoot his next untitled project.

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