The local police on Monday booked a caretaker of Bal Niketan, an orphanage home for abandoned children, on the charges of sexual assault with the girl inmates of the shelter home.
Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, SSP, Chandigarh Police said “The case has been registered on the complaint of the victim girls who alleged that they are being sexually assaulted, beaten, tortured and intimidated by a staff member of Bal Niketan. The case has been registered against Maneesh Arora, who is the care taker of the orphanage, Bal Niketan.
He has been booked under Sections 354, 354-A and Sections 10, 12 of the POCSO Act.” Meanwhile, a disciplinary action shall also be taken against two other employees of the orphanage, Meena Sharma (attendant) and Manjeet Kaur (senior attendant), added the SSP. On April 3, some deprived girls, inmates of Bal Niketan, had made a phone call on the child helpline number (1098) alleging that they are being sexually assaulted by a staff member of Bal Niketan.
According to the complaint by the victim girls, the caretaker, Maneesh Arora, has been assaulting the girl inmates of the shelter home for last many years. They also informed that two wardens, Meena Sharma and Manjeet Kaur, were also aware about the assault.
Following the complaint by the victim girls, a committee was constituted by the UT Department of Social Welfare for investigating the matter. The report of the inquiry was sent to the Deputy Commissioner on April 16.
The UT Deputy Commissioner had on Monday recommended the Chandigarh police department to lodge a case against three employees of Bal Niketan.
The inquiry report of the Department revealed that inmates of the shelter home have claimed that Maneesh used to sexually harass them. Meanwhile, Manjeet Kaur also stated that she had received complaints from Meena Sharma against Maneesh, however she did not take any stern action against him.
The inmate girls told to the inquiry committee that Maneesh used to hug, touch the shoulders and pat on their back which made them feel uncomfortable. They also stated that Maneesh often used to visit their rooms while they were alone.
Recently, a written complaint was also given on the public window at Police headquarters by a group of victim girls against Maneesh. Meanwhile, the accused has not been arrested so far, added the SSP.