Four arrested in Trichy after abuse complaints at girls' home

revisedTrichy: Four staff members of Annai Ashram near Trichy airport, a government-aided home were arrested on Monday, two days after more than 80 inmates were shifted to other institutions following complaints of verbal and physical abuse and negligence.Police said the arrests were made based on a complaint lodged by district child protection officer (in-charge) Sandhiya. Acting on the complaint, personnel from the Ponmalai All Women Police Station conducted an inquiry at the home. Those arrested have been identified as S Uma, the superintendent; Tamil Arasi, warden; Benziah Roslin, counsellor; and Asha Banu, cook. Police said a remand report was being prepared. The accused have been booked under Section 296(B) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (obscene acts or words in public causing annoyance), and Sections 75 and 82 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, which deal with cruelty to children and corporal punishment in child care institutions. On Saturday night, over 80 girls were shifted to other homes on the orders of district collector V Saravanan, and government grants to the institution were temporarily suspended. While the management claimed the transfer was for administrative reasons, district officials said a preliminary inquiry found instances of verbal and physical abuse and failure to provide adequate medical care. "Even after warnings and notices, the staff continued to threaten the children for speaking out," the official had said. "The district institution care protection office is also to face disciplinary action for negligence. 24 hours have been given to respond, " a district official told TOI. Correction: TOI had in the story titled ‘83 children shifted from home over charges of abuse' mentioned the number of children moved as 83 on March 2. However, 84 children were moved out. The error is regretted.