5 Social Welfare Officers Suspended Over Muzaffarpur Assault Case

At least 34 minor girls have been raped at the Bihar shelter, reports confirmed.

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(Photo: The Quint)

The Assistant Directors of Social Welfare Departments of Bhojpur, Munger, Araria, Madhubani and Bhagalpur have been suspended for delay in taking action after a TISS social audit report revealed that a girls’ home – run by the Seva Sankalp Evam Vikash Samiti in Muzaffarpur – had allegedly been mentally torturing and sexually exploiting girls living at the home.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case on the request of the Bihar government and a further notification from the government of India, ANI reported on 29 July.

The CBI has taken over the investigation of the FIR of Mahila Police Station which was filed under sections 120(B), 376, 34 of the IPC and section 4, 6, 8,10,12 of POCSO related to mental, physical and sexual exploitation of girl children residing at Children Home at Sahu Road, Muzaffarpur (Bihar).

The case has been registered against officers and employees of Balika Grih Sahu Road, Muzaffarpur.

Senior superintendent of police Harpreet Kaur told Hindustan Times on 28 July: “I have reviewed the report. It has not ruled out the possibility of rape of five more girls. At least 34 girls have tested positive [of rape] till now, while medical reports have not confirmed rape on eight girls. Two girls were not taken before the medical board because they were mentally challenged”.

The fresh medical report by the Patna Medical College and Hospital comes days after the horrifying instances of sexual exploitation at the shelter home came to light during an audit conducted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Mukul Kumar Ranjan told reporters that posters carrying pictures of Dilip Kumar Verma, the absconding chairperson of the child welfare committee, have been circulated.