CBI registers FIRs against 2 shelter homes in Bihar for abuse of minors

The CBI has registered fresh FIRs pertaining to alleged abuse of children in two shelter homes in Bihar, officials said on Thursday.

The agency has registered FIRs against Bhagalpur-based Boys' Children Home run by Rupam Pragati Samaj Samiti and House Mother Children Home in Gaya, news agency PTI reported quoting officials.

Officials involved in the running of these shelter homes are under the probe of the agency, they said.

There was national outrage in 2018 following the alleged abuse of minor girls at a shelter home run by journalist Brajesh Pathak in Muzaffarpur in Bihar.

The Supreme Court had directed the CBI to probe alleged abuse of inmates at 17 shelter homes listed in a study conducted by Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

The TISS report stated that House Mother of Children Home, Gaya ill treated children by using abusive language, physical assault, forcing them to write lewd messages and taking manual labour.

There was no proper arrangements for medical treatment, study, recreation, food, for the minor inmates at the shelter home. 

The agency also alleged that the director and other officials were running Boys' Children Home in violation of provisions of Juvenile Justice Act.

"The boys were mentally and physically abused in the shelter home. There were no educational recreational or vocational facilities...," it said.
The observations in the TISS report have been included in the FIR as primary allegations, the officials said.