Superintendent of children’s home held

Days after the superintendent and a woman Welfare Officer were dismissed at a children’s home in Lajpat Nagar after female inmates of the facility leveled charges of molestation, the superintendent has been arrested, police said on Wednesday.

“The superintendent of children’s home in Lajpat Nagar, identified as Ram Sahay Meena (45), was arrested on a complaint received through Delhi government official on Tuesday evening,” said a senior police officer. The superintendent and the woman officer were sacked after the girls had complained of molestation by him. The issue had come to the fore after Delhi Women and Child Welfare minister Sandeep Kumar’s visit to the home and his meeting with the girls on June 3.

The minister had also ordered termination of two officials including Meena on the complaints of child abuse. A woman welfare officer, who was also allegedly involved along with the superintendent in misbehaving with the girls, was also terminated from service.

The minister was apprised during his visit that the agitated children had protested against misbehaviour after which he had directed the women staff to talk to them. The minister also inspected the home in the wake of several complaints from the children. 

“It was reported that the superintendent took minor girls to an isolated room and tried to physically abuse them.... A woman Welfare Officer was also involved in the misbehaviour along with this superintendent,” the government statement said. After consulting the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), the minister had asked them to lodge a complaint against the superintendent under the provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).