The proprietors of Anbu Jothi Ashramam, B Jubin, and J Maria, have been 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 near Kedar. Salim’s father-in-law was admitted to the home in December 2021.
On Monday (13 Febuary 2023), police arrested four employees which includes the home’s owners B Jubin and his wife J Maria, on multiple charges, including rape. Warden Muthumaari, a computer operator, Gopinath, an attendant, and driver Biju have also been booked.
Volunteers who assisted in the rescue of 142 residents – 109 men, 33 women, and a boy – reported that some of the women had been raped by employees and that many others had been chained and tortured.
According to a survivor from the Christian home, she came as a teenager from Odisha seeking alms in Vizhuppuram when a rescue group took her to Anbu Jothi Ashram, where she was raped, beaten, and threatened into silence. She added that the employees of the home set on them two ferocious monkeys they were taming, when she tried to resist.
Several women were also reported to have been chained to window grills, drugged with sleeping pills, and raped, with those who resisted being beaten with iron rods and left to be attacked by the monkeys.
The team discovered that at least 15 of the inmates were missing and had no records, while those who remained in the home had contusions, bruises, and blood clots on their bodies and complained of torture and sexual assault.
Locals add that none of the government agencies appear to have inspected the home, which has been operational since 2005. According to the residents, this unregistered home used to hire a van and pick up destitute people in Vizhuppuram, luring them with three meals a day and a decent job under a safe roof. However, as soon as the destitute arrive at the Christian home, they are drugged and tonsured to make them appear mentally challenged in order to avoid suspicion from government officials and visitors.
(With inputs from ToI)
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