3 arrested in kolkata for allegedly raping visually impaired minors

The founder, principal and cook of a private home for the visually impaired in Kolkata’s Haridevpur were arrested for allegedly sexually exploiting and raping minor female inmates of the institution. The founder and the principal were arrested on Thursday and the former cook of the facility was nabbed on Friday in connection with the case. Police say that the arrests were made after some of the inmates testified to them. The three accused were produced before the POCSO court and have been sent to the police custody till September 16. 

“The investigation of all three cases will be taken over by the Special Juvenile Police Unit of the detective department. The accused have been remanded to police custody”, said Sankha Shubhra Chakrabarty, Joint Commissioner, Kolkata Police. Three separate cases have been filed against the accused triumvirate, based on the statements given by the inmates. The first case was filed under section 354 - whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage her modesty, 376 (2) - where a woman is raped by one or more in a group of persons acting in furtherance of their common intention (d) (I) (K) of the Indian Penal Code, the POCSO Act 2012 and under sections of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The second case was filed section 376 (2) (d) of the IPC, the POCSO Act and Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Lastly, the third case was lodged under sections of the IPC and the POCSO Act centering on crimes pertaining to rape, violation of a woman’s modesty and others. 

Kolkata Police along with a team of officials of the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights had raided the premises of the facility on Thursday, after having received information about alleged sexual exploitation that the inmates faced at the home. The founder and the principal were arrested on Thursday itself, and after several hours of questioning, the cook was arrested on Friday morning. 

A total of 74 inmates of the home, both boys and girls have been moved to a different shelter, following the order given by the Child Welfare Community of Kolkata.