Child welfare body finds more children likely faced abuse at Kerala worship centre
A preliminary inquiry by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) into allegations that staff members of a Christian worship centre in Pathanamthitta assaulted a 17-year-old boy
A preliminary inquiry by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) into allegations that staff members of a Christian worship centre in Pathanamthitta assaulted a 17-year-old boy has found that other children staying there may have had similar experiences, officials said on Saturday. The inquiry was launched after a police case was registered, and the CWC found indications that more children housed at the centre had allegedly been subjected to abuse and exploitation. The worship centre has since been closed, CWC Chairperson Leena K Subash said. Read Full Story The case was first registered on June 17 by Kattappana Police in Idukki district against three staff members of the Elohim Global Worship Centre, Pathanamthitta, for allegedly assaulting the boy, a native of Anakkara.
The boy had been staying at the centre, which had promised to support his education and later help him find employment because of his family’s financial difficulties. The case was later transferred to Elavumthitta Police Station in Pathanamthitta district for further investigation. Following the case, the Pathanamthitta CWC also began an inquiry into the incident. Subash told reporters that the committee interacted with several people who had been staying at the centre, which also housed elderly persons. "We recorded the statement of a person who had been living there. We also rescued a child who was being accommodated there illegally. We have learnt that several people were being housed there without proper authorisation," she said.
Subash said three children had been staying at the worship centre. "We have information that a mother and child were also staying there. They have to be traced," she said. She said a medical examination of one of the rescued children revealed injuries. "The children have stated that they were assaulted. They also said they were forced to work at the centre without being paid any wages," she said. Police investigation has found that children from financially poor families were accommodated at the centre on the promise of educational support and help in securing jobs. According to police, the 17-year-old boy from Anakkara had been staying at the centre for the past few months.
He was allegedly not given support to continue his education and was instead forced to work there. Police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, while the CWC inquiry has indicated that the allegations may involve more children who stayed at the now-closed centre. Ends
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