Opposition RJD demanded a CBI inquiry and alleged that the government was trying to protect the accused.
At least 29 girls, aged between 7 and 17, were raped over a period of time in a state-funded shelter home in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, while one was also murdered and buried there, police sources said on Monday.
Opposition RJD demanded a CBI inquiry and alleged that the government was trying to protect the accused.
Police dug up the compound in the presence of Muzaffarpur SSP Harpreet Kaur and three victims on Monday, but nothing was found immediately.
"Two or three girls present today had said that one inmate had been raped, murdered and buried. They are small girls and it is a sensitive matter. We will ask them again if there is any other place where the body could be buried," the SSP said.
Instances of sexual exploitation of the inmates of "Balika Grih" run by NGO Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti were reported by Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) last month. Altogether 42 girls were lodged at the facility at that time.
An FIR was lodged and the report prompted immediate shifting of the girls. They have been kept at shelter homes in Patna, Mokama and Madhubani in the state.
Ten persons including owner of the NGO, Brajesh Thakur, its female office bearers and two officials of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) have been arrested.
A dog squad was also brought to the spot on Monday to assist the police. Some documents were seized from the shelter home, locked for over a month. The NGO has also been blacklisted, police said.
Kaur added that she has ordered a detailed investigation, and that action will be taken if more people are found involved.
"The medical examination of 40 girls has revealed that at least 29 of them were raped. There were scars on their private parts as well as external injuries hinting at torture. Some of them are mentally disturbed and the younger ones are finding it difficult to even narrate their woes," a police source said.
The medical examination of two more girls were yet to be conducted as they were unwell. The source said some of the girls have alleged that a female teacher forced them to sleep naked with her.
The SSP said, "We will be filing a chargesheet against all the accused within three to four days." One person named in the FIR is yet to be arrested.
Horror In Light
Cases of sexual exploitation were reported by Mumbai-based TISS last month. Ten persons, including NGO’s owner, have been arrested.
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