Juvenile home head booked for sodomy

BHARATPUR: The director of a government juvenile house in Bharatpur was booked on charges of sodomising a child staying in the house, police said on Monday.

On Saturday, police registered a case against an unnamed employee of an organisation that runs the juvenile house, and five children for allegedly sodomising the 12-year-old boy.

The case was registered after a complaint was filed by the juvenile house superintendent against the unnamed employee and children, police said.

The police complaint was revised after a directive from district collector Nathmal Didel and all the accused were named.

City circle officer Satish Verma said, “Director and five children, who were residing in the same home, were named in the police complaint under section 377 (unnatural offence) of Indian Penal Code and sections of the Protection of Sexual Offences Act.”

“The statements of the victim have been recorded on Monday. His medical examination was completed on March 3. Police have started investigation for action,” he added.

Pooran Singh, deputy director of the social justice and empowerment department said, “Shelter house director and five children, residing in the house, have been mentioned in the FIR as accused of sodomising the child.”

The director has been absconding after the incident; police are searching for him, the circle officer said.

Visiting the juvenile house on Monday, Child Rights Protection Commission chairperson Sangeeta Beniwal condemned the incident.

“Sodomising a child in a shelter home is really a serious and shameful incident. I have met the victim and talked to him. He told me about what had happened with him,” Beniwal said.

“I will speak to the superintendent of police and district collector to take legal action against the accused and those who are responsible for negligence. The accused will not be speared.”