It’s better late than never. After one year, Dehradun police on Sunday started investigation into the deaths and suffering of inmates at the Government Juvenile Home and Juvenile Girls Home in city due to alleged negligence of officials at the Home.
Official sources said Sub Inspector Anita Negi led investigating team will look into the incident with which three children died allegedly due to negligence of officials and concerned caretakers of the homes.
Sources further informed that an FIR had already been lodged against the former pharmacist, identified as Hari Krishan Semwal and caretakers - Manda, Shanti, Deepa, Sushila, Sarojini and Karan under relevant Section of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 at Nehru Colony Police Station on late Saturday evening.
It has been revealed that some juvenile home staff who were working on contractual basis have left the place while some have been transferred.
According to sources, an inquiry was conducted after three children died in Dehradun based Government juvenile homes in 2016. Then Additional Secretary had conducted an inquiry and negligence of juvenile home staff was found which resulted in the death of three children while one child became physically handicapped.
Based on report, an FIR was lodged against former pharmacist Semwal and other caretakers.
Sources revealed that in the last two years, three children died allegedly due to staff’s negligence. One child became physically affected due to lack of medical treatment on time. As per report of then Additional Secretary, in 2016, a six month old child suddenly died juvenile girls’ home,.
At that time, care taker was Sushila Devi and Sarojani Devi was house mother. As per the report, the death of the child was hidden. When another care taker reached the home then this information was revealed. Suspicion arose when house staff members were found hiding this information.
In the same year 2016, two children of five and six years fell ill. These children underwent medical treatment. However, after few days both died suddenly.
Then additional secretary had conducted an inquiry and negligence of staff was found to be a factor.
It will be recalled that earlier, in 2014, two -year-old girl was scalded due to hot water from the geyser. As per report, the girl injured on first day of the month was given medicine on the sixth day of the same month. Moreover, the girl was admitted in the hospital on the 15th day of the same month. The condition of the girl started deteriorating. The hospital doctor told the staff to regularly check the wounded part the girl. Staff had not followed doctor’s instruction and surgery was not performed. As she advanced in age, there was an anomaly in the growth of her leg, rendering his physically affected.
In addition to this, several cases of negligence were found by then additional secretary and report was sent to principal secretary. Recently, principal secretary had directed the police officers to conduct an inquiry over available report and to take necessary action accordingly.