Miyapur shelter home rape case: WDCW probes into abuse of other girls

Hyderabad: Days after the death of a 14-year old due to physical and sexual abuse at the Maruthi Shelter home in Miyapur, the designated high powered committee has begun inquiring with other girls at the home to know if they underwent abuse.

Speaking to Newsmeter, Commissioner, WDCW, Divya Devarajan, said, "The state high powered committee has started their investigations by visiting Maruthi home at both Rangareddy and Sangareddy districts. The high powered committee also started interacting with the 47 children who have been shifted to government homes."

The girls were previously rescued from the Miyapur shelter home and shifted to government-run homes. "All the remaining children of the Maruthi home have been shifted to govt children's home and collegiate home," the officer said.

She further added that all the 47 girls who have been shifted, have tested negative for Covid-19.

This comes after a 14-year old Sarah (name changed), a resident at the Maruthi shelter home since 2015, reported that a donor physically and sexually abused her last year. The incident came to light on July 31st when an FIR was registered by Sarah's relative at the Bowenpally police station. The case was later shifted to Ameenpur PS, who investigated and arrested three accused- donor Venugopal, owner Vijaya, and her brother Jaydeep.

The young girl, however, succumbed to her ailments at the Niloufer Hospital on August 12th. She was under the supervision of Child Welfare committee when she breathed her last.

Post her death, a high powered committee was formulated by the Government of Telangana to further investigate the case, which included officials from the state council for the protection of child rights, the child welfare committee, the women's safety wing, and the women's commission.