Uttar Pradesh: 24 girls rescued from illegal shelter home in Deoria, couple arrested

As many as 24 girls were rescued from a shelter home in Uttar Pradesh's Deoria on Sunday. Deoria Police on Sunday arrested a couple and rescued 24 girls from a shelter home.

The shelter home's license was revoked after a CBI inspection, ANI reported. Institution's director Girija Tripathi and her husband have been arrested.

"When the order to close this institution was made, our people went there and the organisation's director misbehaved with our team. Today, after a girl escaped from there, we got to the reality of that place. There have been many big disclosures during the investigation. 24 children have been rescued safely so far," Superintendent of Police, Rohan P Kanay told media.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Women and Child Welfare Minister Rita Bahugana Joshi on Monday assured that strict action would be taken against those involved in the incident and said that a thorough investigation on the same is underway.

"After CBI inspection last year, it was established that Deoria shelter home centre was running illegally without norms. A direction was issued to shift the inmates and shut it. But this order was not followed," Joshi stated.

Joshi continued, "On August 1, an FIR was lodged to shut the shelter home immediately as illegal acts were being carried out. The number of children enrolled at the centre as per records are not present. One child was rescued yesterday, who has filed a complaint. An investigation is underway."

In a similar incident, the police in Bihar's Muzaffarpur rescued44 girls from a shelter home last month.

The employees of a shelter home were arrested for allegedly sexually harassing the girls.

(With inputs from ANI)