Kerala Worship Centre Abuse Case: CWC Finds More Minors Affected, Centre Shut
A preliminary inquiry by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) into allegations that staff members of a Christian worship centre assaulted a 17-year-old boy has found that other children housed there had similar experiences, officials said on Saturday.
The CWC, which launched an inquiry following the registration of a police case, found indications that more children staying at the Elohim Global Worship Centre in Pathanamthitta district had allegedly been subjected to abuse and exploitation.
The case was first registered on June 17 by the Kattappana police in Idukki district against three staff members of the centre for allegedly assaulting the boy, a native of Anakkara. The boy had been staying at the centre, which had promised to support his education and later help him find employment in view of his family's financial difficulties. The case was subsequently transferred to the Elavumthitta police station in Pathanamthitta district for further investigation.
Following the development, the Pathanamthitta CWC also launched an inquiry into the incident. CWC chairperson Leena K. Subash told reporters that the worship centre had been closed after the allegations surfaced. However, the committee interacted with several people who had been staying at the centre, which also housed elderly persons.
“We recorded the statement of a person who had been living there. We also rescued a child who was being accommodated there illegally. We have learned that several people were being housed there without proper authorisation,” she said.
Ms. Subash said three children had been staying at the worship centre. “We have information that a mother and child were also staying there. They have to be traced,” she said. She said a medical examination of one of the rescued children revealed injuries. “The children have stated that they were assaulted. They also said they were forced to work at the centre without being paid any wages,” she said.
Police investigation has found that children from financially poor families were accommodated at the centre on the promise of educational support and assistance in securing jobs. According to police, the 17-year-old boy from Anakkara had been staying at the centre for the past few months. He was allegedly not provided any support to continue his education and was instead forced to work there.
The police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
