Two minor girls found dead at govt run rehabilitation centre in Kerala, police suspect suicide

Two minor girls were found dead under mysterious circumstance in the government run ‘After Care Home’ at Ianchavila, a village in Thrikkaruva, Kollam district.

The girls were found hanging using plastic rope from the staircase of the home. The death is presumed to have occurred in the early morning. 

One of the girls was 15-years-old and the other was 17-years-old. One was studying in the tenth Standard, and the authorities were trying to get admission for the other girl for plus two class. 

They were admitted to the ‘After Care Home’ recently, one was admitted in January this year whereas another girl was admitted a month ago. 

In a preliminary examination, the deaths are suspected to be cases of suicide. Suicide notes recovered by the police says that they were upset about living away from home. 

“The girls were sheltered in the home as per the recommendation of the Child Welfare Committee. They were victims of sexual abuse. There is no mystery in the deaths and we assume they are cases of suicides. It was written in the suicide notes that they were upset that they are living away from home and that they were not able to go home. It was also written that they were not allowed to go home by the Care Home authorities,” Circle Inspector Kollam West, VS Biju told The News Minute. 

“The deaths were assumed to have occurred in the early morning. The authorities found the bodies at around 4.50 am. The girls went to sleep at 10.30 on Wednesday night.” he added. 

The home is one of the rehabilitation centres functioning under the Social Justice Department that houses children of financially backward homes and for sexually abused children. Children are admitted in the home either through the recommendation of the Child Welfare Committees or as per their will. 

Minister for Social Justice KK Shylaja, in a press statement, said that enquiry into the incident has been ordered. “The Secretary of the department is given instruction to conduct a probe into the incident after keeping away the home superintendent,” the statement said. 

State Commission for Child Rights has registered a suo motto case in the incident. It has directed the District Collector, the Kollam City Police Commissioner, the District Child Protection Officer and the After Care superintendent to submit a report in ten days.