Former inmates welcome verdict, recall horror

ROHTAK: Former inmates of Rohtak’s Apna Ghar, who were subjected to torture and harassment during their stay at the infamous orphanage, have welcomed the special CBI court’s verdict on Friday that sentenced main accused Jaswanti Narwal, her son-in-law Jai Bhagwan and driver Satish for life.

“We are thankful to the court for giving her life imprisonment. She also needs to bear the torture and pain that she had inflicted on us. Only then she will understand her mistakes,” said a victim.

He, along with some others has been living at another orphanage in Rohtak since the Apna Ghar sexual assault case broke out. The school-going boys shared their stories of physical abuse by Jaswanti and other accused.

“She would make me work as a laborer and punish me if I make any mistake in the household chores. Often, she locked me in room without giving any food,” said a victim, who is now in Class 11.

Another boy, now in Class 10, said Jaswanti would not let him attend school and make him sweep floors and wash utensils at the orphanage. “Mana karo to murga bana ke dandon aur sariyon se maarti thi aur khana nai deti thi (If we say no, she would give us corporal punishment and beat us with iron rods and keep us hungry),” he said.

The girls living at the orphanage suffered the worse— with many subjected to sexual assault, molestation and trafficking.

The entire episode had come to light when three girls from the shelter had managed to escape and contact a helpline on reaching Delhi. Over 100 inmates were rescued from the shelter, which was then sealed by the Haryana government and has remained locked from past six years.

› We are thankful to the court for giving her life imprisonment. She also needs to bear the torture and pain that she had inflicted on us. Only then she will understand her mistakes.

A VICTIM