Nitish recommends for CBI probe into rape of Muzaffarpur Balika Grih inmates

Speed Post News Network

Patna : Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on July 26, 2018, ordered CBI probe into the sexual explointation of 29 inmates of Muzaffarpur Balika Grih. The Chief Minister on July 26 directed the Chief Secretary, DGP, and Principal Secretary, Home, to immediately hand over the probe into the sexual exploitation of Muzaffarpur Balika Grih inmates to the CBI.

Describing the entire episode as heinous and shameful, CM Nitish Kumar said that the State Government is committed to an impartial probe into it. He said that state police were probing into the incident quite meticulously.

It may be mentioned here that the Social Welfare Department had asked Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, to conduct a Social Audit of Balika Grih ( Shelter Homes) run by the State Government through the NGOs. TISS, in its report submitted to Bihar Government on April 27, 2018, higlighted the sexual exploitation of Muzaffarpur Balika Grih inmates.

All the 44 inmates of Muzaffarpur Balika Grih have since been shifted to other Shelter Homes located at Mokama, Patna, and Madhubani. An FIR was also lodged with Mahila Police Station, Muzaffarpur, in this connection on May 31, 2018.

The inmates, in their statements on June 2, 2018, had accused Brajesh Thakur, Director of Muzaffarpur Balika Grih, and other other employees of sexually exploiting them . Thakur, a non-FIR accused, was arrested on June 3, 2018, along with 7 other non-FIR accused including Kiran Kumari, Minu Devi, Manju Devi, Neha Kumari, Indu Kumari, Chanda Kumari, and Hema Masih. 

The subsequent medical examination of the inmates clearly indicated sexual exploitation of 29 inmates. Police have already arrested 10 persons in this connection. Muzaffarpur Balika Grih was being run by ‘Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti’ since November 2013. Police are, however, yet to arrest absconding accused Dilip Kumar Verma.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had recently said that the CBI would probe into the matter if Bihar Government recommends for the same.