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June 26 - United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
- Corporal Punishment to
Children - Principal lady officer arrested on tip off from MANITHAM
[26-06-2005]
Two minor girls, Selvi and Suganthi confessed to Manitham on 23rd June, 2005
that they have been tortured by Mrs. Banu Kamal [a] Banumathi, aged about 45, a
Christian Malayalee, and the Principal Officer of 'Amma Old Age Home' [AOAH].
A spot investigation was immediately called off by Manitham, headed by its
Executive Director, G.Subramanian and by Advocate Murugasen, a member of Manitham. The investigation revealed that unlawful acts were possible in that
case. This was reported over mobile to Mr. Pon Manickavel, Superintendent of
Police [Rural], Coimbatore. A team of police from Vadavallui [Navavoor
jurisdication] arrived and took the girls for a direct enquiry with the S P
Rural. After thorough enquiry, police detained and arrested Mrs. Banu Kamal, on
24-06-2005.
BACKGROUND STORY:
 'Amma Old Age Home' [AOAH] is situated in Navavoor Village in Vadavalli,
10 KM from Coimbatore Town. AOAH was opened only 3 months ago. It is managed by
Mrs. Banu Kamal [a] Banumathi, aged about 45, a Christian Malayalee, who claimed
to be a foreign returned. This AOAH has an office at New Siddhapudur in
Coimbatore town.
AOAH at Navavoor is also used as the residing place by the Principal officer's
family. Along with Mrs. Banu Kamal, her son Master Prafful, studying plus one and
a lady maid were also residing here.
Apart from the above, one aged lady has also registered with this home for safe
stay. It is said that several lakhs of rupee has been taken from her family
members to guard this old lady.
Along with the above, four minor girls mentioned below also stay in this house.
1. Suganthi, aged about 15, Daughter of Mr. Chinna Thambi, IX standard passed.
2. Selvi, aged about 16, Daughter of Mr. Rangan, X standard discontinued.
3. Pachi Kodi, aged about 15, Daugher of Mr. Govindasamy, VIII standard passed
4. Maheswari, aged about 16, Daughter of Mr. Kuppusamy, X Standard passed.
All the four minor girls are from families below poverty line. Their parents are
agricultural laborers. They all reside in a very remote village called,
Kondakithanapalli, Patchur Post [Pin Code : 635 854], Tiruppatur Taluk, Vellour
District, Tamil Nadu.
They were brought to this AOAH be some lady agents from Dindugul in Tamil Nadu.
These 4 Children were taken to this AOAH under the guarantee that AOAH
authorities will give Nurse Training in prominent Hospitals and there will be
given a minimum salary of Rs. 1,200 per month. Believing this, with the consent
of their poor parents, the girls have registered with AOAH. While registering,
the AOAH authorities altered the age of these girls as if they are above 16
years.
 Instead of sending them to Hospitals as promised, the AOAH used them for their
own purpose. They were asked to prepare food, clean the house, take the old lady
to the bath room and toilets, cleaning the human feces etc. The son of Mrs. Banu Kamal, Master Prafful, from time to time, used to beaten the girls and
asked them to serve drinks such as Beer etc for their friends and to his mother.
Many times the girls were taken out with bad intention.
To escape from the clutches of AOAH, Selvi & Suganthi begged the AOAH authorities
to send them back to their home. But the authorities refused to send them back.
They were denied even a single paisa. They were also scold in vulgar words
like......., 'you have come here only for food'. Due to this mental and physical
torture, the two minor girl children escaped from the AOAH on 22-06-2005 night
at around 10.30 pm and sought asylum in a nearby Navavoor village.
On the early morning, 23-06-2005, Manitham member and Advocate Mr.Murugasen rang
up and intimated the whole story to Manitham Office. Immediately Manitham
planned a spot visit and conducted an investigation to the know the truth behind
in the matter. The two minor girls, Selvi & Suganthi were crying and informed,
what has happened to them at AOAH. At around 11.08 am, Manitham called the
Coimbatore Rural Police Head, Mr. Pon Manickavel on his personal mobile. He
immediately ordered a police team from Vadavalli and deputed another higher
police officer Mr. Rajendran from SP's office to take the girls for his direct
enquiry.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Banu Kamal along with 2 other girls, Pachi Kodi and Maheswari,
made a complaint to Vadavalli police that 2 girls were missing from AOAH.
At SP's office, in front of news media, the SP enquired the affected girls.
After a thorough enquiry by the SP himself, he asked the officials to frame
charges on the AOAH authorities under sec. 374, 352 and 323 of Indian Penal Code and under
section 26 of Juvenile Justice [Care & Protection] of Children Act, 2000. On enquiry, the other 2 girls also wanted to leave AOAH and
the 4 minor girls were handed over to All Women Police Station, Pothanur for a
safe return to their parents.
On 24th June, the next day of enquiry, the Principal Officer Mrs. Banu Kamal was
duly produced before the Judicial Magistrate No: 8 at Coimbatore Combined Court.
The Magistrate has remanded the Principal Officer for 15 days under judicial
custody.
Recommendations:
Manitham recommends the police that further steps are to be taken on this case :
- Child Labour Abolition Act
- Guardians and wards Act, 1890
- The Probation of Offender Act, 1959
- The Women and Children's Institution [Licensing] Act, 1956
- Immoral Traffic [Prevention] Act, 1956
Follow - Up:
- On 25-06-2005 Radiology test taken for the 4
girls by the police for age proof. |
