Children's home sealed in Tiruvannamalai over sexual abuse charge, third in a year

After 20 children were rescued from two homes in Tiruvannamalai, complaints of sexual abuse were made by girls in another children's home in the district on Jan 26.
Children's home sealed in Tiruvannamalai over sexual abuse charge, third in a year
Children's home sealed in Tiruvannamalai over sexual abuse charge, third in a year

For the third time in the span of a year, the Tiruvannamalai police has sealed a government recognised children's home in the district, following allegations of sexual abuse. A children's home which comes under the jurisdiction of the Tiruvannamalai town police is the latest institution to be shut down, after young girls informed district authorities that the manager in the home had assaulted them. 

According to the police, the abuse came to light at a government organised workshop conducted for the children on January 26 and January 27.  The girls were brought to a government home as part of the 'Big word' campaign aimed at ensuring safety of the children. 

"But before the programme ended the chidren were told to write down any problems that they have on a piece of paper and submit it. That is when a couple of girls mentioned the manager at this private home and accused him of molesting them," says Deputy Superintendent of police K Annadurai. "The girls in that home were all between the ages of 11-17.

31-year-old Vinod Kumar who has been working at the institute for five years now, allegedly showed the girls pornography and then sexually assaulted them. After reading the complaints, the Collector went along with police and Child Welfare Commission officials to the home for a surprise check. A case was then registered against Vinod under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. 

"We have removed the 15 children from there and shifted them to a government home," says the DSP. "This is the third home in just one year. Earlier we had rescued close to 20 people from two homes. We are now planning to keep complaint boxes outside all these homes so that children can reach us directly. We will be checking the boxes every week.”

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