Police in India’s Jharkhand State have arrested a Jesuit priest on charges of aiding and abetting the abduction and gang rape of five social activists, but church officials say the charges are fabricated.

Father Alphonse Aind, principal of Jesuit-run Stockmann Memorial Middle School in remote Kochang village in Khunti Diocese, was sent to custody on June 22, a day after the June 19 rape case was reported.

The priest, two Ursuline nuns and two teachers were interrogated on June 21. Police released all but the priest.

The social activists and the two nuns were part of a team holding a street play in the school to create awareness about the trafficking of girls at the invitation of priest, who is also the local parish priest.

Six men on motorcycles took the women to a nearby forest area and raped them on June 19.

Police say they have arrested two suspects and are searching for the others. The priest has been “falsely implicated in nine serious charges including abetting crimes like rape deliberately to deny him bail.”