C'grah: Director, warden of children home held for sodomy

The director and warden of a private children home in Chhattisgarh's Durg district were arrested on Saturday on the charges of sodomising at least six minor inmates, police said.

"Director B Nadulu and warden J Dilip Kumar of Bethel Children Home in Titrudih area of the district were arrested on the complaint of six minor inmates (aged between 11 to 13 years)," Durg ASP Rakesh Bhatt told PTI.

Mohan Nagar police booked the duo under Sections 377 (unnatural offence) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC and are awaiting medical report of the victims, he said.

The latest instance of child abuse surfaced nearly two months after some girl inmates of government-run residential schools in Kanker and Balod districts accused authorities of sexual assault.

"The case came to light when four girl inmates, who had escaped from the children home on March 26, were rescued by volunteers of Childline, a non-government organisation.

"As these girls complained of irregularities and torture in the children home, an inspection was conducted along with officials of women and child welfare department, which confirmed the allegations," said Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Yashwant Jain. He said during the inspection, a few boys had also complained of sexual abuse after which action was taken.

Nearly 47 children, including 17 girls, were staying at the children home. "Four of these girls have been shifted to a children home at Mana in Raipur while the rest are being kept at a state-run children home in Durg," Jain said, adding that the boys were shifted to different hostels in the city.

Both, CSCPR and district administration have ordered probe into the incident.