Police have arrested NGO managing director Fayaz Rahman and one of his associate Udit Lima in forceful conversion and child trafficking case
Samanwaya Nanda from Odisha
The real face of Christian organisations working in the name of service and humanity is once again exposed when Good News India, a Christian NGO found indulged in various nefarious activities while running shelter home in Beltikiri village under Sadar police limits of Dhenkanal District in Odisha.
Allegations of sexual exploitation were first made by the inmates of this Dream Shelter home; later it was revealed that conversions and child trafficking were also taking place. Widespread protests have been started across the State demanding strict action against those who are involved in this. Police have arrested Fayaz Rehman, the managing director of Good News India, Simanchal Nayak, in charge of the Dream Centre Shelter and one of his associate Udit Lima in this case.
The interesting fact is that this shelter home was running illegally. The woman and Child welfare minister Prafulla Samal confirmed this.
“The shelter home is unregistered and running illegally. Strict action will be taken against the authorities of the shelter home,” he said.
“The shelter home has some 22 to 26 branches in several districts of the state. The District Collectors have been directed to investigate those and shut them down. The officials have also been directed to shift the inmates of those shelter homes to other institutions,” added Samal.
Apart from inmates of the shelter home, the cook also alleged sexual exploitation by owner Fayaz Rahman, and he reveals foreigners used to come to the shelter home regularly.
“I have seen the owner Rahman Sahab hug and kissed the girls. He often visits and hugs the girls tightly. Foreigners also come to the shelter home when there is a big function. They too get cosy with the girls. I have been seeing all this for two years”, the cook Pitabas Digal said.
Apart from Digal’s scandalous revelation, a confidential email from one Pramod Roul to all the directors of GNI shelter homes across the State has spilled even dirtier secrets. Pramod Roul is said to be internal auditor of Good News India.
The email strictly instructs the directors to be prepared for visits and checks from Child Welfare Committee , District Child Protection Unit and the police. The email lists some of the following shocking things:
Children should tell that they get chicken, fish and egg every week. They should also tell that food is tasty and enjoyable. The children should say that they are well taken care of when they fall sick.
Regarding the intimacy of pastor with kids, children should say that pastor sits with us, asks us about studies, etc. When asked if the pastor kisses and hugs them, the children need to entirely refuse this.
Children should not elaborate on any past incident. Children need to tell that they do not know anything about baptism program.
Two inmates of shelter home had been sent to their home after the made allegation of sexual exploitation. Police recorded their statement. When Police started investigating into the case, some children were found missing. According to police sources, they might have been trafficked to some other state.
This NGO was also converting the children to Christianity. Some videos and photos of the conversion and duban process were found and were gone viral in social media. In these videos and photo Fayaz Rahman can be seen in converting children and other people. The children are from low-income families. So Fayaz Rahman used to baptise them before taking them into the shelter home.
Following sexual exploitation allegation a, BJP Mahila Morcha team visited the spot and talked to local people and administration. After visiting the shelter home State BJP Mahila Morcha president, Pravati Parida alleged that the NGO was indulged in forcible conversion under the patronage of State Government.
“The NGO which has been running 26 shelter homes in the State was not only exploiting the inmates sexually but forcibly converting their religion. Illegal activities were going on with the knowledge of the government. Laws regulating the shelter homes are not strictly implemented under pressure from international forces. Foreigners used to visit the shelter home and torture children. ” she alleged.
