The Goa State Child Rights Protection Commission on Saturday wrote to Apna Ghar, the State-run child care home, directing it not to hand over the minor girl from Nepal, who is at the centre of a rape case involving an MLA, to her parents or any caretaker “under any circumstances.” The letter also sought to know how Apna Ghar planned to ensure proper care and safety of the girl.
Atanasio Monserrate, an unattached MLA and a former Education Minister, is in police custody for the alleged rape of the girl, who was employed at his shop.
Sources in the Commission told The Hindu that it has marked a copy of the letter to Karthik Kashyap, Chief of Crime Branch Superintendent of Police. They said the chairperson of the Commission, Sushma Kirtani, swung into action the moment she learnt that the mother of the victim was seeking her custody.
“When the mother has been considered an abettor to the crime, how can the custody of the victim be given to her, ” the Commission’s letter asked the Apna Ghar authorities, and directed the child care home to deploy two special guards for the girl’s security.
The police, however, said the girl’s mother and her accomplice were both under arrest and the possibility of their taking the girl’s possession was ruled out, but agreed that there were concerns about her safety.
Third accused arrestedMeanwhile, Rosy Feroor, the third accused in the rape and human trafficking case, surrendered before the Crime Branch on Saturday.
Ms. Feroor has been accused by the victim of selling her off in March to Mr. Monserrate for Rs.50 lakh in connivance with the minor girl’s mother.
