Sexual Abuse: Police To Take Arrested MD On Two-Day Remand

Dhenkanal: Police will take Managing Director (MD) of the NGO, Good News India, Fayaz Rahman on two-remand from Tuesday.

He and three others were arrested on Sunday after minor girls of Dream Centre Shelter Home at Beltikiri in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district lodged complaint of sexual abuse.

Sadar Police on Monday produced Rahman before the Special POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) court and pleaded that they be allowed to take him on two-day remand for further interrogation.

Acting on a complaint lodged by the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO), the Sadar Police on Sunday had arrested the project director and in-charge of the shelter home, Simanchal Nayak, Assistant Director Udit Kumar Lima and later, Rahman from the branch office of Good News India at Phulanakhara in Cuttack.

Following the incident, Director General of Police (DGP) R. P. Sharma on Monday directed the Superintendents of Police (SPs) to submit details about the shelter homes running in their respective districts. He also asked them to verify whether they have been registered and submit details about their modus operandi.

Earlier in the day, BJP Mahila Morcha president Pravati Parida had accused Good News India of using its shelter homes to convert the inmates, especially those from the tribal community. While the head office of the NGO is in the USA, the governing members of the board are foreigners, she had said. She had also alleged that apart from the owner and staff the minors are also sexually abused and tortured by foreigners who visit these shelter homes.

Some of the minor girls have even been trafficked to neighbouring states and abroad, she had pointed out.