Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Apr 6: A 52-year-old caretaker of an orphanage at Kumpala has been arrested on Tuesday, April 6, on charges of physical and sexual abuse of a minor.
Addressing media, the police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said, “The arrested is Ayub hailing from Konaje. On March 28, the police department, the child welfare committee, and KS Hegde Hospital child welfare officer and the School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya had conducted an awareness programme at TMA Pai Hall for 480 inmates of child care centres and orphanages within Mangaluru city police commissionerate. The programme was to create awareness on bad and good touches, child rights, and assessment to know whether the child underwent any kind of abuses and then to conduct counselling for the children.
“During the programme, we came to know that a 14-year-old boy was undergoing sexual and physical abuse at Noorani Yathim Khana Darul Masakeen Kumpala. In the beginning, the child said about some problems. After two rounds of counselling, the real issue came to light. Twenty such instances in six institutions came to light and a probe is in process.
“Four such instances are reported from the institution at Kumpala. The children have been rescued and shifted to a safe location.
“The programme which was conducted was completely confidential as we never informed the caretaker what the programme was all about. We had projected the programme as related to awareness on Covid. The reason for conducting the programme at TMA Pai Hall was that the children would not feel comfortable sharing anything at the child care centre.
“Women police station has registered the case under POCSO,” he said.
The children were also given questionnaires. Those who mentioned that they went through abuse were shortlisted and counselled.