HSCCW team to probe shelter home sexual abuse charges
A Haryana State Council for Child Welfare (HSCCW) team will investigate into allegations of sexual abuse of inmates at a shelter home in Chhachhrauli block of Yamunanagar district, an official said.
A Haryana State Council for Child Welfare (HSCCW) team will investigate into allegations of sexual abuse of inmates at a shelter home in Chhachhrauli block of Yamunanagar district, an official said on Monday.
The team from the council's headquarters in Chandigarh will submit its report in a week's time. It will also inspect facilities available for children at Bal Kunj, the shelter home that has found itself in the middle of a controversy after a 14-year-old girl inmate, Khushbu, went missing on Thursday. The authorities are yet to release the child's photograph.
The team has been sent after the media had reported that some children at the shelter home had alleged that they were being subjected to sexual, mental and physical exploitation, by their caretakers.
Deputy commissioner Ashok Sangwan confirmed the news. "They will look into the infrastructure at the children's home and also the behaviour of the staff with the inmates," Sangwan said. "Those found guilty will be severely punished," he said.
Meanwhile, in what may hit investigations, out of the 180 children who reside at Bal Kunj, only 50 are staying at the shelter home right now.
District child welfare officer Manisha Khanna reasoned it was because of the summer vacations. "They leave for their homes around this times of the year," Khanna said.