A 50-year-old woman was allegedly molested and abused while living in a private shelter home in Qutub Vihar area in Delhi, the Delhi Commission for Women revealed on Tuesday.
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered at Chhawla Police Station. It was revealed that the woman has leveled allegations against five persons, including a married couple.
According to DCW spokesperson, a team from DCW led by member Promila Gupta had visited the shelter home on January 23, 2019.
“During the visit, many irregularities were found in the shelter home. It was found that the number of inmates living in the home were more than the number mentioned in records of the home. It was also observed that the residents were punished for not doing works assigned by the officials of the home,” DCW stated in their official release.
The commission revealed that a 50-year-old woman informed them that the officials of the home tortured and molested her.
“She informed that she was undressed in front of the male workers of the shelter home and chili powder and salt were inserted in her private parts. She informed that home officials used to beat her regularly and on some occasions hot water was poured upon her,” DCW spokesperson stated.
The Delhi Police were informed and the woman was rescued and an FIR was registered. She was produced before the magistrate and transferred to another shelter home, the commission disclosed.
Further, it was revealed that the shelter home has had a dubious record in the past as well. Four minor girls were earlier rescued by DCW from the same home. The commission has also recommended cancellation of license of the Shelter Home.
“The condition of shelter homes across the country needs to be improved. DCW is not leaving any stone unturned for auditing the shelter homes in Delhi and improving their condition.
The Commission believes that people who commit atrocities on shelter home residents, like in this case, should be given the strongest punishment. Further their license should be withdrawn,” DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal said.