Four staff members of a private hostel for children at Thirupparaithurai in Tiruchy district were arrested under the POCSO Act on 5 August 2023 for allegedly sexually assaulting five minor residents. Sources said a total of 240 inmates, including orphaned boys and some students from a nearby school, who preferred a hostel facility, are lodged here.
Approximately four days ago, a staff member from the hostel filed a formal complaint with Collector M Pradeep Kumar, alleging instances of sexual abuse against the children. Following the Collector’s directive, officials from the Social Welfare Department and a District Child Protection officer launched investigations. Their findings indicated that four employees of the hostel were allegedly involved in the sexual assault of five underage boys.
Acting upon the investigation results, the police from Jeeyapuram AWPS took into custody the hostel wardens, namely Dhanasekaran (aged 41) and Yesurajan (aged 32), along with the gardener Parthiban (aged 44) and the cook Sivagiri (aged 34). These individuals were arrested under various sections of the POCSO Act. Collector Pradeep Kumar stated that the affected victims would be under close supervision for a week and would receive counseling. Ongoing inquiries are being conducted to determine whether any other children have experienced sexual abuse. The Collector said that if this is confirmed, the government would assume control of the hostel’s operations.
In the recent past, there have been many cases of abuse reported in the orphanages and old-age homes run in Tamil Nadu.
Kanyakumari Horror – January 2018
In 2018, after nearly three months of being subjected to repeated physical and sexual abuse and attacks, nine underage boys residing at a government hostel for boys in Kanyakumari district came out with the gory details of what happened to them. All this was done by their cook. The victims, all from the SC/ST community, eventually disclosed the disturbing incidents of physical abuse in January 2018 through written statements to school authorities. It was found that Vishwambaran was the primary perpetrator of the abuse, with his assistant Wilson allowing the misconduct to continue silently. The perpetrator was booked under POCSO Act.
Lavanya Suicide – January 2022
The death of a student Lavanya in Michaelpatti, Thanjavur in January 2022, which shook the entire state is another instance where the girl’s death occurred after alleged torture and pressure to convert to Christianity at the Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School in Michaelpatti, near Thanjavur. The case was transferred to the CBI who made it a point to inspect the classrooms, hostel rooms, and the warden’s quarters. The 17-year-old girl’s statement was obtained during her hospitalisation before her eventual passing. An FIR was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Juvenile Justice Act, including abetment of suicide and related charges. The girl’s parents alleged that she was subjected to torture and coercion to convert to Christianity and become a nun, which she had resisted, leading to her tragic decision to end her life. Read more on this case here.
Tiruvannamalai Case – March 2022
In March 2022, a hostel warden of a government-aided children’s home in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai was arrested after allegations that he had sexually abused children. Information received included the fact that seven children who had contacted ChildLine aged between the age of 14-16 alleged that they had been sexually assaulted by the warden. The warden was identified as 36-year-old A Duraipandian, a native of Thoothukudi district. A case under Sections 7, 8, 19 (1), and 21 (2) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and Section 506 (1) IPC was registered. The owner of the home – Sagairaj has also been arrested. The hostel is attached to a private school.
Vellore Old Age Home Assault Case – October 2022
St. Joseph’s Charity Home, an establishment catering to destitute and elderly individuals, has been operational in the Gugaiyanallur vicinity of Vellore district since 2017. In 2018, the facility was closed due to reported incidents of violent assaults involving staff members. After a four-year hiatus, the home was recommenced in March 2022 by its administrator. A complaint was lodged with the current District Collector, Kumaravelpandian, regarding the mistreatment of elderly residents. In response, the Revenue Commissioner initiated an examination, resulting in the rescue of 69 elderly individuals in October 2022. These individuals were subsequently provided with initial medical aid at government hospitals.
Tiruppur Sexual Assault – January 2023
In January 2023, a pastor was arrested under POCSO Act for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old schoolgirl in Tiruppur. This incident happened at a private hostel where several working women, school and college students stayed. The 15-year-old schoolgirl, residing in the pastor-managed hostel, chose not to return after the Christmas break. She disclosed to her parents that Father Andrews had raped her on December 14, 2022, and had threatened her to keep quiet about the incident. On that day, she skipped evening prayers, citing health issues, and stayed in her room. During his rounds, Pastor Andrews entered her room and sexually assaulted her. The pastor, along with his wife, operated the hostel for children and women and was introduced to the victim’s parents through their church. The victim and her brother were enrolled in the hostel, attending school from there.
Vizhuppuram Rape & Inmates Torture Case – February 2023
Tamil Nadu police apprehended four individuals associated with a Christian home for destitutes – Anbu Jothi Ashramam, including B Jubin and J Maria, in a village near Kedar, on a range of charges, notably including rape. Salim Khan, one of the owners, had lost contact with his father-in-law since August 2021. Subsequently, on February 13, 2023, law enforcement took into custody four employees, among them B Jubin and J Maria, on various allegations, including the crime of rape. Additionally, Warden Muthumaari, computer operator Gopinath, and driver Biju are also facing legal action.
142 residents, encompassing 109 men, 33 women, and a young boy, were rescued and volunteers who aided the rescue disclosed that certain women had been subjected to sexual assault by staff members. Numerous individuals had reportedly been shackled and subjected to torment. A survivor originating from the Christian home, who had arrived as a teenager from Odisha seeking assistance in Vizhuppuram, shared accounts of being raped, physically abused, and coerced into silence. Several women had been restrained using chains on window grills, administered sleeping pills, and sexually assaulted.
A minimum of 15 inmates were unaccounted for, lacking any official records. Those who remained within the facility exhibited signs of physical trauma, including contusions, bruises, and blood clots, and alleged instances of both torture and sexual abuse. Local sources indicated that none of the governmental bodies appeared to have inspected the unregistered institution, which had been operational since 2005. According to residents’ accounts, the unregistered establishment used to deploy a van to pick up destitute individuals in Vizhuppuram, enticing them with the promise of three meals per day and decent employment prospects in a secure environment.
Critics argue if there is a common factor among all these assault cases or if it is just a coincidence that the instances of physical and sexual assault is occurring frequently in hostels, homes, orphanages run by specific individuals.
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