Representative Image. Source: Money Control
A shelter for the mentally challenged located in Kunthaladi Bekki near Nelliyalam in Pandalur taluk in the Nilgiris district, operated by Augustin for over 25 years, has come under intense scrutiny after revelations that it has been functioning without a license.
The alarming discovery emerged following a complaint lodged during a meeting chaired by the Nilgiris District Governor last week. This prompted the Gudalur Revenue Commissioner and the Dewala Deputy Superintendent of Police to initiate an inspection of the shelter.
On 8 July 2024, officials conducted a thorough inspection of the facility, uncovering its unlicensed status. They found that the mentally challenged residents were living in deplorable conditions, lacking basic amenities. Even more disturbingly, it was revealed that the bodies of over 20 deceased individuals had been buried on the property without the knowledge or consent of government authorities.
Village administrative officer Shanmugam filed a complaint with the Nelakottai police station regarding the illicit burials. Based on this complaint, a case has been registered, and the police have begun investigating the identities of the 20 deceased. There are also suspicions about potential attempts to sell the body parts of the deceased, which the police will investigate further.
According to the VAO’s complaint, ‘Love Shore’, the facility was managed by a trust, with Augustin from Calicut serving as its managing director. Augustin and his family resided in close proximity to the home in Kunthaladi Bekki. However, when revenue officials arrived to seal the premises, Augustin was notably absent from the scene.
The Nilgiris district authorities have summoned 10 individuals, including the owner of the shelter, for questioning. The summons follows the rescue of 13 mentally challenged individuals from the facility known as ‘LoveShore Charitable Trust,’ which had been operating for 23 years.
The investigation is being led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Saravanan from Dewala. The focus will be on interrogating the 10 summoned individuals to gather more information about the illegal operations of the shelter and the condition of its residents.
The Tamil Nadu Revenue Department officials closed down the illegal home. A. Senthil Kumar, the Revenue Divisional Officer of Gudalur, told The Hindu that while the organization was registered as a charitable trust, it lacked proper signage at its facility. Moreover, the trust did not have the necessary permissions to accommodate individuals with intellectual disabilities or mental illnesses, either from the Institute of Mental Health in Chennai or from the Commissionerate of Differently-abled Persons.
#JUSTIN || நீலகிரி மாவட்டம் குந்தலாடி சட்டவிரோத காப்பக உரிமையாளர் உள்பட 10 பேருக்கு சம்மன்
சட்டவிரோத காப்பகத்தில் இருந்து 13 பேர் மீட்கப்பட்ட நிலையில் சம்மன் அனுப்பியது காவல்துறை
தேவாலா சரக காவல் துணை கண்காணிப்பாளர் சரவணன் தலைமையிலான குழு விசாரணை
காப்பக நிர்வாகி அகஸ்டின்,… pic.twitter.com/RnAO99aVN2
— Thanthi TV (@ThanthiTV) July 11, 2024
This is not the first time that a shelter for individuals has come under scrutiny.
In October 2022, in Vellore, St. Joseph’s Charity Home, which catered to destitute and elderly individuals, was investigated for mistreatment of residents. As a result, 69 elderly individuals were rescued and provided medical aid at government hospitals.
In February 2023 in Vizhuppuram, four individuals associated with a Christian home for destitutes, Anbu Jothi Ashramam, were arrested on various charges, including rape. 142 residents were rescued, with reports of sexual assault, physical abuse, and torture. The unregistered institution had been operational since 2005, allegedly luring destitute individuals with false promises of meals and employment.
(With inputs from Nakheeran)
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