Girls fleeing orphanage report abuse. Two nuns arrested

On 29 June, nine minors fled the Vidyadeep Children's Home in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. They caused a disturbance and reported abuse to the district authorities. The Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod deny all allegations. Sr. D'Souza: ‘The story has taken a political turn.’ Bishop Pinto: ‘An example of selfless dedication for over a century.’

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Two Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod are in prison after nine underage girls escaped on 29 June from the Vidyadeep Children's Home, a Catholic boarding school recognised by the government in the district of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad), Maharashtra.

The young girls allegedly damaged property, wielding sticks and iron rods in the streets of the city. Some went to the district authorities to report serious mistreatment at the facility.

Sr. Philomena D'Souza, provincial superior of the religious institute, explains that the Vidyadeep centre takes in 100 girls and boys under the supervision of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), a body set up in India in 2015 to respond to the needs of young people in need of care and protection.

‘The case has taken a political turn and a First Information Report has been filed with serious allegations. Two nuns and a staff member are in police custody. We are following developments,’ said D'Souza.

The bishop of Aurangabad, Bernard Lancy Pinto, told AsiaNews: "This shelter has been serving for decades and is well appreciated by everyone. The procedures have been followed, the licence renewal has already been requested, and we are awaiting the outcome. The Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod at the Vidyadeep Children's Home have served disadvantaged children for over a century with selfless dedication. We are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation."

The Catholic orphanage is currently under scrutiny by the Aurangabad court of the Bombay High Court, which learned of the case of the escape of the underage girls, who were tracked down the following day and returned to the Vidyadeep Children's Home.

The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) was informed and reportedly advised that the matter be handled internally, with a visit to the facility to collect statements from the girls. The police were then called in to resolve the matter.

The following day, the same group of girls requested a meeting with the CWC. At the scheduled meeting, when the CWC did not arrive at the appointed time, nine of them left the room, locked the staircase gate, forced open the terrace door, cut their wrists and escaped by climbing onto a lower roof. They reportedly threatened to harm themselves and anyone who tried to stop them.

Staff members, some parents and the police followed the girls as they ran towards the district court. They then filed serious allegations against the staff of the Catholic orphanage at the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) office. The institution denied all allegations.

According to some sources, the girls had been instructed to use designated areas to change and had never been deprived of any necessities, as they claim. For example, CCTV cameras in various rooms of the Vidyadeep Children's Home were installed solely for the safety of the children, especially those prone to self-harm.

• Mumbai
• Maharashtra
• Chavanod
• orphanage
• nuns
• minors
• CWC
• Aurangabad