Child care officials near Rourkela held for torturing inmates

Two women, the president and caretaker of a private child care centre, were arrested today on charge of torturing inmates, police said.

President of Global Village, Amiyabala Sethi and caretaker Runi Sethi were taken into custody from the child care centre at Biramitrapur about 40km from Rourkela, they said.

Both the accused denied the allegation and said they had been booked on false charges.

The arrest was made after investigation following a complaint lodged with the police by Sisu Kalyan Samiti, an NGO working for the safeguard of children.

The Samiti alleged the children were subjected to mental and physical torture and kept under unhygienic conditions.

They were not not provided proper food, clothes and were engaged in domestic work, the Samiti alleged and said its members rescued 45 children from the village and had them treatment in Rourkela Government Hospital.