Men Allowed to Rape Women in a Rehabiliation Home

Hoogly, Kolkata, July 13, 2012

Investigations into the mysterious death and burial of Guriya, a 32-year-old woman in a Hooghly rehabilitation home, has unearthed a horror house where female residents were regularly raped and tortured by men from outside. It was virtually a free for all — anyone could walk in after sunset and do whatever he pleased with the women, who are either mentally challenged or speech and hearing impaired.

A representative of the NGO Shruti which fights for the rights of physically and mentally challenged women, said that this is not an isolated case.  She said  ” Sexual abuse is common in homes for women. In case of physically challenged and mentally handicapped women, it is even worse. They cannot protest against the abuse. No home can run without government licence or funding but there is hardly any monitoring.” Full report here

Minor Girls In Indian Orphanage Raped By Police

Chandigarh, June 06, 2012

On May 10, a National Commission for Protection of Child Rights team had raided Apna Ghar a home for abandoned or orphaned children in Rohtak, run by an NGO, Bharat Vikas Sangh, and rescued 94 minors, mostly girls.  The woman in charge of the home,  Jaswanti Devi and her son-in-law Jai Bhagwan were arrested on charges of child sexual abuse.

The girl inmates of the Apna Ghar shelter in Rohtak told a four-member committee that they were gang-raped by Haryana Police officials, who made them dance naked and forcibly took them out of the home.

Almost all the inmates reportedly said that Haryana Police officials were frequent visitors to Apna Ghar and would abuse them with the help of Jaswanti Devi.

According to sources, two of the inmates — one deaf and mute and the other mentally challenged — said that when they got pregnant, the in-charge of the home, Jaswanti Devi, stepped on their stomachs and inserted sticks inside their private parts to force abortions.  Jaswanti Devi, incidentally, is a recipient of a number of state awards for “empowering” women.  Full report here