VIBHA VERMA
PANJIM: Three days after Herald reported that there was no information about 27 children, inmates of the Light House Charity Home where one minor was “raped”, Government sources have confirmed Herald’s subsequent report, based on its own investigation, that some of the children were in the various homes run by the El-Shaddai Charitable Trust, headquartered in Assagao. According to El-Shaddai sources, these children, about 27 in number, were brought to El-Shaddai by their parents and not by the British duo who ran the UK-based charity Light House, who left the country after the news of the minor’s sexual relationship, and her statutory “rape” leading to her pregnancy and subsequent abortion was reported.
Questions now arise as to why the Women and Child Development Department or the Goa police had no idea of where these children were till two days ago when Herald reported the story and followed this up, even as the North Goa police tried in vain to stymie further media inquiries by diluting the story through a press release stating that the girl had gone on her own accord with the accused.
Importantly, the police were unaware the status of these children despite the Women and Child Development Department, instructing the Mapusa police to keep a watch on the functioning of the shelter home in its order on July 30. The police were forced to look for the children from Light House, after Herald’s stories, after which 27 have been reportedly located.
The police squads were dispatched to El-Shaddai after Herald in its Wednesday’s edition disclosed about a few children housed there.
“Some are in El-Shaddai but we have not been able to trace locations of the rest. They are probably sent to their native places” said a senior police officer, who refused to be quoted.
Mathew Kurien of the charitable Trust, when contacted, did not rule out the development. “They (police) might have contacted our Trust. It is possible that the children are here. We have all the papers” he said, adding that it was the parents who got admissions for their children in the Trust that runs an informal school.
The police have still not contacted the couple Graham and Tricia Philips Clarke, who ran Light House. The reason for the abrupt shutting down of the institution too has to be ascertained.
The police also defended their action as far as the accused in the rape case was concerned. “Who said we did not put up a strong case (before the children’s court)? We invoked the strongest sections and it is up to the court whether or not to grant bail. We (Old Goa police) must have asked for (Motilal) custodial interrogation. Police traced the girl, got her medically examined in which she was detected pregnant, called NGO for recording her statement and registered an offense against the accused,” DIG K K Vyas said. “All possible efforts were made to redress grievances of the complainant”.
Your paper asks, the police answers, you decide
In our edition dated September 3, we asked the police 5 questions about this case they needed to answer. We tried posing the same questions to DIG KK Vyas, the only officer prepared to at least discuss the case with Herald
1) What action did the police take to question the heads of the NGO Light House, in whose protection she was?
Vyas: It is very clear that police took a strong action in the case. Whatever further action was required, we had taken. With regard to questioning the NGO heads, he replied: “Speak to the North Goa SP”
2) The duo who ran the charity shut shop and according to a former staff, left for the UK in April. This is September. What has been the role of the North Goa SP in tracking them down and bringing them here for questioning?
Vyas: Ask the North Goa SP
3) We charge the Goa police with not even knowing that Light House has been shut for five months. We ask them to respond to this charge.
Vyas: Speak to the North Goa SP
4) Why is the Goa police not aware of the whereabouts of the 30-odd children, fellow inmates of the ‘rape’ victim, since sex with a minor is not consensual under the JJ Act?
Vyas: I agree (that minor’s statement that she went with the accused at her own will does not hold in the court of law, she being protected under the law)Whatever best possible action has to be taken under the law for the justice of the victim, we will do that. If not done, we would do that. (Non Committal on the issue of the 30 children)
5) Once bail was granted to the accused by the Children’s Court, why hasn’t the Goa police moved a Higher Court?
Vyas: We will look into it and accordingly decide.
Govt orders inquiry into incident
PANJIM: The State government has asked the Police Department and the Child Welfare Committee in North Goa to investigate into the entire episode and submit a report. The Secretary to the Chief Minister and Women and Child Development, P Krishnamurthy told Herald that the inquiry will probe into inmates’ whereabouts and other details. “The Child Welfare Committee
has a mandate to investigate such cases and, but we are writing to them and the Police Department to investigate and find out where the children are and whether there were any instances of maltreatment and/or malnourishment (in the home),” he said. He said the inquiry will look into broad interest of the children, will give overall recommendations and recommend action wherever necessary.
