Following a complaint by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Jaswanti Devi, operator of the NGO Bharat Vikas Sangh that runs child and women protection houses at Sri Nagar locality in the city, and her son-in-law Jai Bhagwan were arrested, Rohtak's Superintendent of Police, Vivek Sharma told PTI.
"Jaswanti was arrested from the house last night while Jai Bhagwan, who was absconding after the incident, was also nabbed later," Sharma said.
A spokesman of the Haryana Police said that both the accused were produced in court which sent them to police remand upto May 13.
The NCPCR team had conducted a raid at the houses last night following information that gross violation of Child and Women Welfare Act was being committed by the NGO staff.
Children and women lodged there have charged the NGO officials with misconduct, criminal intimidation and sexual harassment, said Vinod Takko, a member of the team.
Police arrested Jaswanti Devi for the offence of abusing and beating the inmates staying at 'Apna Ghar' being run by her. Jai Bhagwan was booked for sexual harassment and molestation of the inmates.
Three girls who had run away from one of the shelters on May 7 night and were found by the Delhi police later had narrated their ordeal to NCPCR and complained about the NGO.
The SP said that the inmates, most of whom were minor girls besides a few boys had been allegedly wrongfully confined by the NGO. In addition, there were also few women inmates in the shelter homes.
"In the name of providing security and shelter, the inmates were terrified and threatened that they would be killed if they complained to the police," he said, adding detailed investigations would reveal for how long this had been going on.
The spokesman that the district administration, Rohtak has taken over the charge of the NGO and designated Child Development and Project Officer (CDPO) as Administrator.
A special investigating team consisting DSP (headquarter), Sumit Kumar, DSP (City), Tula Ram, DSP, Rohtak Dharna Yadav and six other investigating officers has been constituted for investigation into the case. MORE
