Seized documents raise doubts

By R. Ravikanth Reddy

TANDUR (Ranga Reddy Dist.), APRIL 22. The plush air-conditioned rooms were in contrast to the heat generated by its occupants. The sophisticated equipment such as luxurious cradles and expensive toys did not give indications of the alleged raw deal meted out to the infants. The sprawling place and well-maintained facilities certainly did not reflect the controversy surrounding its functioning.

But when it comes to the hard facts, the John Abraham Memorial Bethany Home in Tandur did raise doubts about its functioning what with several anomalies in the documents found there. The adoption documents signed by the biological parents looked more fake than real when examined by some correspondents what with scraggy thumb impressions of parents who ``sold'' the infants and tattered papers.

The allegations gained credence what with none of the people concerned present at the place, which was literally taken over by the police. The courtyard, where the dead infants were allegedly buried without intimating police officials, was the centre of attraction as teeming media men and local politicians visited it.

Different versions of the burial were aired but police officials clarified that the facts were yet to be established. Some locals wanted the digging done in the presence of media men to establish the truth. But Mr. Balakrishna, Additional Superintendent of Police, Ranga Reddy district, said there were no specific complaints with the police to ascertain the allegations. However, he felt it was difficult to find out the truth unless the place was dug up.

The Ranga Reddy district Collector, Mr. Ajay Jain, who visited the home on Sunday, locked the office and announced that all seized documents would be handed over to the CB-CID team, constituted to look into the irregularities.

As was being believed, Mr. Jain did not order for the digging of the place to exhume the bodies of children who died allegedly due to negligence. ``Now the case has been taken over by the CB-CID and action would depend on its report. We will not jump to any conclusions,'' he said also ruling out immediate action against the culprits.

The Collector, who personally supervised its seizure, said some documents were taken by Karnataka police officials while some others were in the custody of the Women and Child Welfare department. Though the home maintained files of all children, the Collector admitted that there were some discrepancies in the files.

He said the orphanage attached to the controversial home would also be closed and the few children there would be shifted to Government welfare centres. However, Mr. Jain pointed out that even as the CB-CID would go about its investigation, the district administration would take steps to identify the Lambadi thandas in the area, from where the children were allegedly bought for little money, and educated to drive away superstitions. On the alleged selling of children, he noted that it was not just the money but social factors that contributed to it. ``They are `selling' only girls and not boys and this reflects the deep rooted superstitions'', he pointed out.

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Section  : Southern States
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