On January 6, Madhya Pradesh Police declared that the 26 girls initially feared missing from an illicitly operated children’s home in Bhopal were, in fact, safe and found in their respective homes. The confusion arose due to inadequate documentation by the unauthorised shelter home.
Bhopal district superintendent of police, Pramod Kumar Sinha, revealed that preliminary investigations indicated the girls had returned home due to discomfort at the shelter. Statements from the children are being gathered for further action.
Sinha said, “Preliminary investigation has suggested that the’missing’ 26 girl children have in fact returned to their respective homes when they did not feel comfortable in the shelter home.” He added that statements of these children are being taken and action will be taken in the case based on their statements.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav assured strict action against those responsible for the illegally run shelter home, emphasising the safety of all the girls. He stated, “Not a single culprit will be spared in this matter.”
भोपाल के परवलिया थाना क्षेत्र में संचालित बालगृह से लापता बालिकाओं का वेरिफिकेशन हो गया है, सभी बेटियां सुरक्षित हैं और इनकी पहचान भी कर ली गई है।
एक भी दोषी और लापरवाही बरतने वालों को बख्शा नहीं जाएगा : CM
— Chief Minister, MP (@CMMadhyaPradesh) January 6, 2024
Former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan also took cognizance of the matter and wrote on social media platform X,”The case of the disappearance of 26 girls from a children’s home operating without permission in Parwalia police station area of Bhopal has come to my notice. Considering the seriousness and sensitivity of the matter, I urge the government to take cognizance and take immediate action.”
भोपाल के परवलिया थाना क्षेत्र में बिना अनुमति संचालित बालगृह से 26 बालिकाओं के गायब होने का मामला मेरे संज्ञान में आया है।
मामले की गंभीरता तथा संवेदनशीलता को देखते हुए सरकार से संज्ञान लेने एवं त्वरित कार्रवाई करने का आग्रह करता हूं।
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) January 6, 2024
The incident came to light on December 4 when National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Chairman Priyank Kanoongo uncovered the unregistered Aanchal Girls’ Hostel during a surprise inspection.
कल मध्यप्रदेश की राजधानी भोपाल के तारासेवनिया में राज्य बाल आयोग अध्यक्ष व सदस्यों के साथ संयुक्त रूप से एक मिशनरी द्वारा संचालित अवैध बाल गृह का निरीक्षण किया।
यहाँ की संचालक NGO हाल तक सरकारी एजेन्सी की तरह चाइल्ड लाइन पार्ट्नर के रूप में कार्यरत रही है,एवं इसने सरकारी… pic.twitter.com/yVlWt04c90— प्रियंक कानूनगो Priyank Kanoongo (@KanoongoPriyank) January 5, 2024
Entries for 68 girls were in the register, but 26 were reported as ‘missing.’ Kanoongo revealed that the missionary-run shelter home operated without a license, rescuing children from the streets and allegedly promoting Christianity.
He said, “Most of the more than 40 girls aged between 6 and 18 are Hindus.”According to NCPCR Chairman Kanoongo, a missionary who was managing the children’s home rescued some children from the streets and was running the shelter home without any license. He added that the rescued children were kept secretly in the house and were made to “practice Christianity”.
Contrary to initial concerns, the girls were found safe in their homes, with the shelter home failing to maintain proper records. The remaining 41 girls have been shifted to registered shelters from states like Gujarat, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
The NCPCR Chairman added, “Unfortunately, the officials of the Women and Child Development Department of Madhya Pradesh want to run the child helpline on contract from such NGOs.”
In response to the negligence, three officials from the Women and Child Development (WCD) department were suspended, while two others received show-cause notices. Shelter director Anil Mathew was booked under the Juvenile Justice Act following a complaint.
Bhopal SP (rural) Pramod Kumar Sinha emphasised the shelter’s illegal operations, lacking registration and permission from the Child Welfare Committee. The suspended officials were identified as Komal Upadhyaya, Brijendra Pratap Singh, and Manjusha Raj, while Deputy Director Ramgopal Yadav and District Programme Officer Sunil Solanki received show-cause notices.
An investigation into foreign funding and potential religious conversions at the shelter is underway, as stated by Bhopal Collector Kaushlendra Vikram Singh. Strict actions will be taken against those found guilty.
इस मामले में पाई गई लापरवाही पर सीडीपीओ बृजेन्द्र प्रताप सिंह(वर्तमान पदस्थापना गंजबासौदा),सीडीपीओ श्रीमती कोमल उपाध्याय को निलंबित किया गया है। साथ ही महिला बाल विकास अधिकारी सुनील सोलंकी एवं सहायक संचालक महिला बाल विकास रामगोपाल यादव को एससीएन जारी किया गया है।#DMBhopal pic.twitter.com/ge4mCbKhqt
— Collector Bhopal (@CollectorBhopal) January 6, 2024
A First Information Report (FIR Number 4/2024) for the case was registered at Parwaliya Sadak Police Station in Bhopal, invoking sections 34, 42 and 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, with director Anil Mathew as an accused.
As per the FIR, the NCPCR and state child commission team visited the shelter home on January 4, situated in the Tara Sewaniya area amidst secluded land. The available documents indicated that the shelter accommodated children aged between 6 and 18 years. Upon scrutiny of the register, it was discovered that 26 girls were missing.
The report further detailed that Anil Mathew, formerly in charge of Railway ChildLine, had registered numerous orphans through outreach programs in various areas without obtaining permission from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Notably, the premises lacked CCTV cameras, and contrary to the regulations for girls’ shelter homes, four security guards on night duty included two men.
Additionally, during the inspection, teams uncovered packets of fish in the kitchen. The children residing in the shelter disclosed that despite their diverse religious backgrounds, they were compelled to adhere to and practice Christianity exclusively.
