Probe confirms sexual abuse at Jalandhar shelter home

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 14

Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma on Friday handed over the report of a six-member inquiry committee, formed to probe the alleged rape of a mentally challenged 37-year-old woman at local Pingla Ghar, to the Commissioner of Police.

The report claimed that a mentally challenged woman was raped and left pregnant at the Pingla Ghar. Then she was married off to a man in the same shelter home. It also highlighted the lack of cooperation in investigation from the Pingla Ghar authorities.

As per the report, the woman in her statement to the committee said she had been visiting another employee at the home before her marriage. However, she did not mention anywhere in her statement that she was raped.

While she was married off to a man at the Pingla Ghar in August, as per the report, the warden of the home gave the reason for her wedding to the man as her often being seen with him. However, the man said he was approached by someone, who asked him whether he would like to get married, to which he said yes.

Sources said the inquiry team had neither been provided the pictures of the wedding nor the manager of the home gave his version to the committee.

The DC said, “Our team has conducted a detailed investigation and something is certainly amiss. A mentally challenged, pregnant inmate of Pingla Ghar has been married off. We have submitted the report to the police for criminal investigation and penal action.”

Navneet Kaur Bal, SDM, Shahkot, who headed the inquiry panel, said, “A wedding took place at the home. Based on the report, it is the prerogative of the police to initiate penal action.”

Mentally challenged victim pregnant 

• After the report of marriage of a mentally challenged, pregnant inmate of Pingla Ghar came to light, the Deputy Commissioner formed a six-member committee to probe the matter. 
• The team found the woman living with the man in a room at Pingla Ghar. She was found 24-week pregnant when the investigation began. While the woman was shifted to Sanjeevani Home at Model Town on September 5, the man continues to stay there.