Minor claims trio to have sexually abused him & bid to kill him in observation home

Pune : Three Yerawada observation home inmates were arrested by police after another inmate, a 17-year-old minor, accused them of harassing and sexually abusing him and attempting to kill him between November 8 and November 17.

After being arrested by the Sangli police in connection with a robbery case, the victim was recently moved to the observation home. A few days ago, the three suspects celebrated their 18th birthday. Two of them were in custody on charges of theft, and one was in custody on a rape case.

The observation home’s superintendent stated that after receiving orders from the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), they had moved the three to the men’s jail after notifying the appropriate police stations, which had taken adverse action against them.

The senior inspector of the Yerawada police said that in order to protect their custody in this particular case, they will obtain an order from JJB and a special POCSO court.

The senior inspector went on to say that because the three boys and the victim were kept in the same cell, they got to know one another. According to the victim, the three put pressure on him to clean their clothes and shoved a soap cake into his mouth. They threatened to kill him, sexually molested him, and choked him to death with a bedsheet when he resisted.

For the longest time, the victim was silent out of fear. Later, after gathering courage, he informed the authorities at the observation home about the incident, and they notified the police.

About thirty boys, according to the superintendent of the observation home, have been housed there. Probation officers, NGOs, and counselors advise them to give up criminal activity. To integrate them into society at large, they provide them with an education. In order to keep them occupied for ten to twelve hours every day, they encourage them to play and do yoga.

In three shifts, they have sent out two to three guards apiece. They rove the property to keep kids from running away. Additionally, police officers regularly patrol the area and deal with minors.

Shreyas Vange