Officials from the Revenue Department of the Tamil Nadu Government sealed 2 more rooms at the Anbu Jothi Ashram after evidence of 35,000 drugs given to Ashram inmates to convert them to Christianity was found there.
A few days ago, the proprietors of Anbu Jothi Ashramam, B Jubin, and J Maria, were arrested by Tamil Nadu police on several charges, including rape, in a village in the Vizhuppuram district. After receiving a complaint from Salim Khan, who had not heard from his father-in-law since August 2021, a team of officials raided the Anbu Jothi Ashram, a home in a village in Vizhupuram. Salim’s father-in-law was admitted to the home in December 2021. Warden Muthumaari, a computer operator, Gopinath, an attendant, and driver Biju have also been booked.
According to the victims, When they attempted to resist, the workers of the home allegedly set on them two ferocious monkeys they were taming. Furthermore, the CBCID police have taken over the investigation into the Anbu Jyoti Ashram case and are currently conducting thorough inquiries.
In this situation, a team led by Dr. Anand, a member of the National Child Welfare Commission, visited the Home at Vizhupuram and conducted an investigation on Wednesday (15th March).
Following this, the team went to Vizhupuram Government Medical College Hospital where they met with the victims and conducted an investigation.
Addressing the press, Dr. RG Anand, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) member, said, “Three teams from Delhi have traveled to Vizhupuram to perform a field study on this issue. In addition to Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, this Ashramam has connections in five other states including Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.“
He added, “Only 60 people are permitted to be maintained in this building by the Anbu Jothi Ashram. But more than 140 people are confined in this building. They have been artificially drugged. 35 thousand tablets given to mentally ill persons have been seized. After being drugged they are converted to Christianity. We have requested that authorities look into where they purchased these. The Mundiambakkam Medical College Principal has assured us that a report on the drug’s source will be provided within 15 days.“
He further said, “There are 7 child welfare centers functioning in Villupuram district. 2 of which were working for mentally challenged people. Anbu Jyoti Ashram is one of them. We have locked and sealed its 2 rooms. In order to ensure safety in other shelters, we have ordered the DSP, District Child Welfare Officers to conduct an investigation in person and submit a report. We have also directed that the workers be investigated. The CBCID police are still investigating whether the 35,000 narcotic drugs came from Mundiambakkam Government Medical College Hospital or other hospitals, or states, or countries, and how they acquired them.“
He said, “Also, conversion work has been going on in the Ashramam by doing Christian prayers at night. The mother of the child admitted to the hospital has given a statement on this. By taking sick individuals into a dark room and promising that everything will get better soon, the Ashramam has been pursuing conversion. The CBCID police are investigating about the 15 missing persons in the shelter. Police said that one of them has died, while two others are identified.“
He went on to say, “As the case in this regard is going on in the court, Police have said that they will submit the report after the investigation. The minors and adults admitted here are not mentally challenged. They have been drugged. The ashram has been involved in religious conversion by giving drugs. An investigation is also going on check whether money has been exchanged for this conversion.“
He concluded by saying, “Many women in the Ashramam were sexually harassed. All of this cannot be done by one person, but there may have been some groups involved. Police are trying to find them. We will submit the inquiry report to the commission. Further action will be taken thereafter. We are going to hand over our inquiry report to the Union Ministry in two days.“
(with inputs from Hindu Tamil)
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