Police probe confirms abuse at Mehrauli children home

The Delhi Police have confirmed sexual abuse of three minors at a children’s home affiliated to an organisation headed by the National Advisory Council member, Harsh Mander.

The Delhi Police have confirmed sexual abuse of three minors at a children’s home affiliated to an organisation headed by the National Advisory Council member, Harsh Mander.

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The three boys of Umeed Aman Ghar, located in south Delhi’s Mehrauli, were abused by their seniors in February, the police found during an investigation.

Last week, the police had submitted the probe report to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which asked them to file an FIR against the ‘culprits’.

The CWC also asked them to book the home in-charge under the Juvenile Justice Act as he did not inform the cops.

“Two boys were sodomised and the third was forced into unnatural activities,” said a senior police officer, requesting anonymity.

The report is based on the abused children’s statements given before the police.

The abuse came to light in the first week of July when a former employee of Umeed Aman Ghar, lodged a complaint with the CWC.

The former employee alleged that three inmates were being sexually abused by older boys, but no action was taken against them.

Claiming that it was not the first case of sexual abuse at the home, the former employee, in the complaint, said the older children had been sent to other shelters, but could return. The complaint also alleged that the victims were not counselled after the incident.

The CWC asked the police to trace the former employee and produce the person in the next hearing.

Umeed Aman Ghar, in a statement, said: “Criminalising children wouldn’t help reform them. But this doesn’t mean we did not take action. The alleged offenders were immediately expelled from the home.”