The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has now taken over the case of the alleged sexual exploitation of girls in Balika Grih, a children’s home in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. The CBI has booked the officers and employees of the shelter home in connection with the sexual, physical and mental exploitation of 42 girls, who was staying in the shelter home.
Earlier, the investigating team led by Muzaffarpur IG Sunil Kumar and DIG Anil Kumar carried out the inspection with the forensic team where they have recovered some medical equipment and sedatives which are believed to be used in the crime. They even found a secret staircase inside the shelter home. As per reports, the forensic team have also recovered some bed sheets and clothes to conduct tests, which could reveal more information regarding sexual abuses against the girls. The shelter home run by Seva Sankalp Evam Vikash Samiti has also been accused of having carried out abortions of the girls who had gotten pregnant after being raped.
The shelter home was housing the girls between the ages of 7 to 17 and most of the girls were suffering from speech-impairment. It is reported that they were given sedatives in the dinner and raped during the night and the inmates have been brutally beaten regularly by the shelter home staff, including women and compelled the girls to have sex with the visitors.
This shocking incident came to light last month when the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) submitted a report, based on conversations with several girls at the home which was meant to be their shelter. Further medical examinations revealed that 34 out of the 42 girls were sexually harassed and raped in the shelter home. The police have now arrested 10 out of the 11 accused, including District Child Protection officer Ravi Kumar Roshan, Caretaker Brajesh Thakur and Child Welfare Committee member Vikas Kumar.
The state government had earlier recommended a CBI probe to investigate the case. Now, the CBI has registered the case against the NGO under the section 120(B), 376, 34 of IPC and section 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 of POCSO act.
