The case was brought to light earlier this year
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) booked officers and employees of the shelter home where several minor girls were raped.
The matter had come to light earlier this year when the Bihar Social Welfare Department filed an FIR based on a social audit of the shelter home conducted by a Mumbai-based institute.
The audit report stated that many girls at the shelter home had complained of sexual abuse. A special investigation team was formed to probe the complaints.
The NGO running the shelter home in Muzaffarpur was blacklisted and the girls were shifted to shelter homes in Patna and Madhubani.
The probe agency took over the investigation from Muzaffarpur's Mahila Police Station where the case was registered on May 31, under Section 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 376 (outraging the modesty of a woman), 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 4, 6, 8,10,12 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO).
On July 28, the police claimed that 34 of 40 girls, who were rescued from the state-funded shelter home, were raped or molested. 11employees of the shelter home were also arrested in this regard.
Taking cognizance of the matter, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had earlier directed the state officials to conduct a CBI inquiry in the matter.
1. Protests begin
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Jan Adhikar Party supporters protest against Bihar’s Social Welfare Department Minister Manju Verma after allegations against her husband Chandeshwar Verma of frequently visiting the Muzaffarpur shelter home.
While political blame game is going on in Bihar, several girls have come forward to give horrific details about their stay at the shelter home.
According to the Times of India, some girls said that they would cut themselves on arms and legs to avoid sexual abuse. A girl recalled how they would bleed in pain to avoid ‘ganda kaam.’ - PTI
2. AAP raises its voice
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Aam Admi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh with supporters protest against the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case. At least 10 people including 8 women have been arrested after the allegations of rape and murder at a government-funded shelter home in Bihar's Muzaffarpur. The shocking incident came to light after a social audit by a Mumbai-based institute. A girl from the shelter home has alleged that one of her fellow inmates was beaten to death and buried at the premises of the facility, and several were raped.
3. Digging for evidence
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Police dig outside a government-funded shelter home where girls were raped by several people. A girl from the shelter home has alleged that one of her fellow inmates was beaten to death and buried at the premises of the facility, and several were raped. Following the inmate's claim, the Bihar Police dug up the grounds of the facility, but are yet to find the body. - PTI
4. Arrests getting made
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A police official takes away one of the accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case. Of the 42 girls housed at the home, run by NGO Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti, medical tests so far have confirmed sexual assault on 34. While girls were allegedly forced to undergo abortion, one was allegedly killed an buried on the shelter home campus. - ANI Twitter
5. Congress raises its voice
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Members of the Bihar Pradesh Congress shout protests against the rape of several girls in a governmen-funded shelter home in Bihar's Muzaffarpur. The shelter home had entered into an agreement with Social Welfare Department, Bihar on October 24, 2013, and commenced its operations on November 1 the same year. According to its records, altogether 471 girls have stayed there at some point of time, of which four ran away and three died. An investigating officer said they are trying to find out these "missing" girls too. - Congress/Twitter
6. Police speak
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42 out of 44 girls living there underwent medical examinations, two were ill. Medical reports of 29 out of 42 girls indicated sexual contact. Police have arrested 10 out of 11 accused, said Bihar DGP KS Dwivedi while speaking on the rape case - ANI Twitter
7. Govt is protecting main accused, alleges RJD
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RJD's Tejashwi Yadav has alleged that several drugs & things related to abortion were being used at the shelter home. "Still, the main suspect Brajesh Thakur is being protected by govt. When will he be arrested? Till when minor girls will be raped in the state?" - ANI Twitter
8. CBI takes over
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The CBI has registered a case on the request of Bihar Govt & further notification from Govt of India and taken over the investigation case related to mental, physical & sexual exploitation of girl children residing at Children Home at Sahu Road in Muzaffarpur - ANI/ Twitter
