Inmates of Mercy home were being abused by the staff
Residents protest in front of the children's home in Coimbatore on Monday. (Photo: DC)
Coimbatore: Residents of Puliyakulam in the city staged a protest in the city on Monday demanding the shutdown of a private home sheltering HIV-AIDS patients.
The angry residents claimed that the inmates of Mercy home were being abused by the staff and said the home should be closed down immediately. But the management of Mercy Home insisted that the residents of Puliyakulam were making false allegations to shift the home for the HIV positive children and youth out of their neighbourhood.
There are about 20 inmates in the Mercy Home - most of them being HIV positive patients. The police said that a 20-year-old woman, affected with HIV and cancer, had been admitted to the care home a few days ago by her father.
Residents alleged that a 20-year-old-girl was found weeping inconsolably outside the home on Monday morning. When the neighbours enquired, the girl told them she had been beaten up as she had not washed her clothes. Other inmates were also being forced to do cleaning and other chores despite their ill-health, residents alleged.
As the residents protested, the Ramanathapuram police rushed to the spot and conducted inquiries.
The Ramanathapuram police inspector, Saravanan, said that a detailed inquiry was being conducted into the functioning of the home. No proof of criminality could be found in the documents of the home, the inspector said.
After the residents’ stir, the father of the girl arrived and took his daughter to his house, police said.
However, police suspect that the local residents were opposed to the home for the HIV/AIDS patients functioning in their neighbourhood. Meanwhile, district child welfare officer L.Vijaya said that they may visit the home on Tuesday and make a detailed inquiry.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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