Child rights body flags lack of action in sexual abuse case in Jharkhand

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) raised concerns over alleged child trafficking and abuse at the Nirmal Hriday Centre, which is run by the Missionaries of Charity, in Ranchi.
In a letter to Jharkhand’s Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, the NCPCR highlighted the lack of action following reports of sexual abuse in the institution, despite the statements of some survivors.
During a visit to Dumka in August 2019, the NCPCR had seized documents from the institution, which had information regarding pregnancy and sexual abuse of victims.
The child rights body said that it had identified 13 sexual abuse survivors from the institution. However, no complaint was lodged by the police.
The NCPCR, in the letter, urged the DGP and the chief secretary to file FIRs in the case immediately under the POCSO Act.
In the letter, the child rights body urged them to file FIRs in the case of two survivors, whose statements were recorded by the Child Welfare Committee.
It also urged that FIRs should also be filed in cases where the survivors were identified as minors and furnish a report about their whereabouts.
The commission said that the action report should be submitted by the chief secretary and the DGP within five days.