An investigation is underway in southern India’s Kerala state into a neo-Christian organization after allegations of child abuse and forced labor surfaced at one of its facilities. The probe follows a police complaint filed a few days ago in June 2026 by a 17-year-old boy against three staff members of the Elohim Global Worship Centre in Pathanamthitta district, as reported in The Hindu.
The juvenile, a native of Anakkara in Idukki district, alleged that he and other children residing at the centre’s hostel, known as Snehathanal, were subjected to physical assault and compelled to work without wages, as reported in UCA News. The boy had been placed at the facility with the understanding that he would receive educational support and assistance in finding employment, given his family’s financial constraints. He reportedly stated that these promises were not fulfilled and that he instead faced mental and physical abuse.
A preliminary inquiry conducted by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) following the registration of the police case has revealed indications that other children at the centre may have experienced similar mistreatment. The case, initially registered by the Kattappana police in Idukki, has since been transferred to the Elavumthitta police station in Pathanamthitta for further investigation.
Pathanamthitta CWC Chairperson Leena K. Subash confirmed that authorities rescued three children from the facility, with two of them being relocated to their home districts. A woman in her mid-thirties and her infant daughter, also rescued from the centre, are currently under the care of authorities in Pathanamthitta. Officials are actively attempting to locate another woman and her infant child who were known to be residing at the institution until recently.
She stated that the worship centre had been closed by police prior to the CWC’s investigation, which prevented the committee from speaking with the children who had been living there. The committee’s interactions with individuals who had been housed at the centre, including elderly persons, revealed that several people were residing there without proper authorization. A medical examination of one of the rescued children reportedly showed evidence of injuries.
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The investigation has revealed that children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds were accommodated at the centre based on assurances of educational and employment aid.
The head of the Church group, Pastor Binu Vazhamuttom, has not been named as an accused in the case. In a statement, he denied knowledge of the allegations and called for a thorough investigation, asserting that any proven crimes should be punished. He suggested that his organization has been targeted by local leaders of the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) due to its growing popularity in the region and highlighted that his Church provided educational assistance to 3,000 children this year. The situation prompted a police presence at the centre following unrest.
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