The Kozhikode Rural police and the Social Justice Officer will probe a recent incident in which the children of an orphanage at Panthirikkara tried to escape following an alleged attempt by the orphanage management to physically torture them.
The inquiry is being conducted on an order of the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. The commission had registered a case in connection with the incident on the basis of media reports. The Circle Inspector of Perambra will also submit an inquiry report as per the direction of the commission.
According to police sources, the report would be submitted by September 17. “The commission has given seven days to investigate the case and submit the report,” they said.
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The probe in the case was ordered by Naseer Chaliyam, chairman in-charge of the panel after conducting a preliminary inquiry into the incident. A communication from the office of the commission said the case would be considered at a sitting on September 19.
The police will inquire into the registration details of the orphanage as children from various parts of India had been admitted here.
Police officials said they would take the issue seriously in the light of recent incidents in which some orphanage managements were found to have flouted rules relating to the inter-State transfer of children in the name of giving them safe accommodation and education.
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Complaint filed
A group of local people have approached the police with a complaint that the orphanage management had recently shifted some of non-Kerala children from their institution to another one. In the complaint, they alleged that there was an attempt to scuttle the inquiry and cover up the illegal practices in the sector.