Kochi: Five days after four minor girls escaped and were brought back by cops, 20 inmates of the Kakkanad Children’s Home (Girls) on Thursday climbed its terrace and threatened to jump off the building if their demands were not met. Dramatic scenes were witnessed for close to four hours when the inmates, all juveniles aged below 18, refused to climb down as they claimed wardens at the correctional institution physically and mentally tortured them.
“The girls scaled the two-storey building terrace at 9.30 am and raised several demands. Some of them wanted to go home, and others objected to the harsh punishment meted out by the wardens while a few of them complained of the Home lacking playing materials,” police said. Child Welfare Committee members, police and fire force units, P. T. Thomas MLA and local councillor M.M. Nazar soon rushed to the spot but failed to pacify the children.
Finally, when the situation threatened to go out of hand, district collector Mohammed Y. Safirulla reached there and assured them of considering their demands. Authorities said three out of the four girls who had escaped the Home on Saturday and later traced by the police led the protest. The Home currently houses 33 girls.
“We’ve received a petition from the girls that wardens beat them with PVC pipes. A meeting of CWC will also be held at the Home on October 17 to address their grievances. Collector has also promised to hold a meet before that in which the inmates, their parents and the wardens will participate,” said an official of the social justice department. Meanwhile, Human Rights Commission has taken a suo motu case on the incident.
