Bajrang Dal Activists Allege Conversion, 'Rescue' Orphanage Kids
Pics: Savitha B R/Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Apr 8: In yet another case of alleged conversion, as many as 41 children were stopped by a group of Bajrang Dal activists when they were waiting for the bus at PVS circle to take them to their native places.
The children, inmates of Stella Maris orphanage in Kotekar, were about to board the bus here on Friday April 8 to take them to their home district Bidar, when they were stopped and questioned by the activists.
The activists alleged that the orphanage had been involved in acts of conversion, and claimed that they grew suspicious after observing and talking to the children.
The activists then informed the officials of women and child welfare department officials. Child welfare committee president Asha Nayak arrived at the spot to make preliminary investigation.
The children were taken to the remand home in Bondel, Kavoor, temporarily.
The orphanage has been functioning for the past 60 years, and on demand by the child welfare committee, the sister in charge produced relevant legal documents in this regard to prove that the orphanage was registered and the children were not illegally confined.
Asha Nayak and assistant commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatte visited the orphanage to verify the documents. After a thorough discussion, they concluded that all the documents were in place and decided to send the children back to the orphanage.
Speaking to Daijiworld, Sr Christine Misquith, head of Carmel Vocational Institute, Bidar, said that orphans and children from poor families are frequently sent to Stella Maris for providing them better education and opportunities.
She asserted that the orphanage has legal documents validating its mission to provide education to poor children from standard 4 to 7, and has been doing so with the help of grants from state government's minorities and backward classes welfare department.