Inmates recall Friday night horror

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, April 14

The child welfare committee (CWC) today visited the observation home in Ambala City where some inmates had created a ruckus over a television set and were allegedly beaten up by the police on Friday.

CWC chairperson Vandana Sharma and members Gurdev Singh, Mohit Aggarwal, Jagmohan Singh and Rekha Sharma visited the observation home.

Gurdev Singh said, “The inmates said they were beaten up twice by the police, once on Friday night and again on Saturday morning. There were injury marks on their bodies. Over 25 inmates were still in pain and at least eight had swelling in their feet.”

“Since Friday night, no treatment has been provided to them and only tablets of paracetamol have been given. The superintendent has said a mail was sent to the Chief Medical Officer regarding the check-up of the children. However, a Health Department official denied having any such information,” the CWC member said.

The CWC members have not been provided CCTV footage of the observation home. They have directed the superintendent to provide the footage tomorrow.

The CWC member said, “Children have confessed that one of the two CCTV cameras was damaged by them, but they have expressed ignorance regarding the second damaged camera. We agree that the children had created a ruckus, but it is not the way to handle the situation. Moreover, department officials tried to hide the matter, which is wrong.”

The CWC found some shocking facts during the visit and has decided to take up the matter with senior officials of the Women and Child Development Department, the NCPCR and the human rights commission.

A source said, “At least 30 inmates have been examined, who have sustained injuries and there is apprehension that nearly five have sustained hairline fractures, while some others have internal injuries. The X-ray examination will be conducted tomorrow.”

District Programme Officer (DPO) Baljeet Kaur said, “In order to control the situation, the police were called and they may have shown some strictness, but no inmate was beaten up in front of me. Some inmates were complaining of pain and they were provided medical attention.” City Magistrate and JJ Board members also visited the observation home today.