Four women staff arrested for abuse at Dwarka shelter home

New Delhi: Delhi Police on Saturday claimed that four persons (women's staff) were arrested from the shelter home in Dwarka district. The arresting came after the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) made startling revelations that girls were abused through chilli powder inside the shelter home.

Confirming the arrest, police sources claimed that after investigations they arrested four persons." Women's staff including welfare officer, two house mothers and one home in-charge arrested after proper investigation," sources added. The case was registered under 75 JJ ACT and 6 POCSO ACT in Dwarka Sector 23 police station.

The women rights' body on Friday through a Press statement claimed that home staff forced girls to have chilli powder in order to discipline them.

"It was horrifying to know that chilli powder was thrust publicly in their vagina and butts by female shelter home staff as forms of punishments. Other forms of punishment included beating with scales for not keeping the rooms clean and for not listening to the staff. The girls were not permitted to go home during summer and winter vacations, the DCW claimed in the Press statement.

The statement further added that the DCW members interacted with girls of age group 6-9 years, 10-13 years and 13-15 years to understand their experience of residing at the shelter home. The elder girls in the group informed that they were forced to do household chores in the shelter home. Since the home did not have adequate domestic staff, the elder ones were forced to take care of the younger girls. The elder girls washed utensils, cleaned rooms and toilets, washed clothes and other kitchen chores. There was only one cook in the shelter home for all the 22 girls and staff and the children informed that the quality of food provided to them was not proper. The DCW interacted with girls of age group 6-9 years, 10-13 years and 13-15 years to understand their experience of residing at the shelter home. The elder girls in the group informed that they were forced to do household chores in the shelter home.

Later DCW chief Swati Maliwal tweeted, "Have been informed that 4 shelter home staff have been arrested by Delhi Police. Request CWC to ensure new management of the Home and protection for the girls. They need to be rehabilitated properly."

Another tweet claimed, "Also request Centre to ensure inspection of all shelter homes across the country by sensitive officers at war footing. When abuse can be prevalent in shelter home in Delhi, one can imagine what must be going on in the entire country."