2 shelter home inmates undergo medical examination in Zirakpur

Satinder Pal Singh
Zirakpur, October 17

Following the reports of sexual abuse of three inmates, including an eight-year-old girl, during their stay at a shelter home run by NGO ‘Justice for Victims’ here, medical examination of two inmates was conducted at Community Health Centre (CHC), Dhakoli, here today.

However, one of the inmates aged 11 years refused to undergo medical examination stating that he was not subjected to any cruelty or harassment by any of his fellow inmates, said sources.

The matter comes in the backdrop of the alleged sexual abuse of the three inmates at a shelter home in Zirakpur in the past.

Meanwhile, low and high vaginal swab samples of the minor girl and anal swab samples of another inmate aged 7 years were collected by doctors at the CHC, Dhakoli. The samples have been sent to a forensic science laboratory in Mohali to verify the allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by three fellow inmates, who were staying at the shelter home.

The incident came to light when the three inmates, who were shifted to Apne Foundation Child Care Institute, Sector 76, Mohali, on August 28, 2018, while sharing their history with councillors, revealed that they were sexually abused and exploited by three guys, all brothers, who were also staying at the shelter home with them.

They also revealed that Nirpreet Kaur, who is managing the shelter home in Zirakpur, did not take any action when the matter was reported to her.

An official from the District Child Protection Care said it had come to their knowledge that the shelter home, which was operating from Savitri Enclave, VIP Road, here, was not registered under relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice Act. The official said a letter in this regard was sent to Nirpreet Kaur, in-charge of the shelter home, giving her one-month time to get it registered under the Act.

A team of the District Child Protection Care inspected the shelter home but it did not find any document related to its registration. The official also found that the shelter home was not working legally as per the norms even after the month.

Following the directives of the Child Welfare Committee, the team brought two juveniles to Apne Foundation Child Care Institute in Mohali on August 28.

Sukhwinder Singh, SHO, Zirakpur, said an FIR had been registered against the three suspects under relevant sections of the POSCO Act, while Nirpreet Kaur has been booked under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act. He said the medical examination of the victims was conducted and investigations would proceed as per the reports.

Samples sent to lab

Meanwhile, low and high vaginal swab samples of the minor girl and anal swab samples of another inmate aged 7 years were collected by doctors at the CHC, Dhakoli. The samples have been sent to a forensic science laboratory in Mohali to verify allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by three fellow inmates, who were staying at the shelter home.