Despite wide publicity in the national television channels including print media on rescue of 51 trafficked children and girls on March 12, by the Rajasthan Police, the government of Nagaland was yet to contact the NGO or Rajasthan Police on the fate of seven children from Peren district.
This was claimed by Satya Prakash who is the Programme Coordinator (Hq), FXB India Suraksha, an NGO involved in rescuing trafficked children.
Prakash disclosed to Nagaland Post, that the 51 children-seven from Nagaland, 21 from Manipur, one from Assam, two from Nepal and the remaining from Delhi, UP and Punjab, were housed in two separate institutions.
Of this, 27 girls and two minor boys were rescued from “Grace Home” run by the so-called Pastor Jacob John.
Prakash said Jacob married twice and currently has a Dutch wife adding it was not known if she was also involved in the scam.
Seven of the children are from Nagaland’s Peren district, in the age group of 4 to 6. Some of the children have been in the home from two, four or six years and had gone to Rajasthan on promises of getting free and better education. Another batch of 22 children were rescued from “Fathers Children’s Home”.
State unresponsive
Prakash claimed that he had sent an e-mail to the director of social welfare Nagaland, asking the state government to take urgent and “stringent action” against the culprit(s).
He said FFXB India Suraksha had requested the Nagaland government to ensure that the identities of the children were protected against social stigma as per section 228 of Indian Penal code.
FFXB India Suraksha also requested that medico-legal test be conducted on all children, especially “ortho test”.
The NGO also requested that the state also recommend that statements of the children be recorded under Section 164 of Code of Criminal Procedure to ensure that justice was delivered in the best interest of the minor children.
Sexual abuse
Prakash also disclosed that medico-legal examination of the children, who were rescued from the two different homes, was pending.
He however said one of the girl victims revealed that she along with other underage girls used to be “sexually abused” by pastor Jacob John.
The victims also revealed they used to be beaten up with electric wires on several occasions. They also revealed that they were made to cook, clean, had to teach study lessons to each other as there were no cooks, warden or teachers.
Prakash said some local people aided pastor Jacob John to get children but that this was yet to be confirmed.
A national newspaper had reported that several empty bottles of liquor were also found in the home that had only one latrine and bathroom and in a dirty condition.
Rajasthan Police had acted on the tip off from FBX India Suraksha and arrested Pastor Jacob John and others involved.
Recommendations
Further FXB India Suraksha strongly recommend that the government of Nagaland set up an enquiry committee to reveal who were aiding pastor Jacob John to run the illegal home at Jaipur and to initiate legal actions against those who organised the supply of children.
FXB India Suraksha urged upon the government of Nagaland to immediately send a team to Jaipur prior to restoration and repatriation and also to chart out a plan so as to ensure that the children were not re-trafficked.
Prakash also disclosed that the NGO has also urged upon the state government to intimate Residential Commissioner (RC), Nagaland House, New Delhi for the repatriation of the children by deputing an official to intervene in the matter and submit a status report to the government for further necessary action.
The NGO also urged upon the state government to seek a detailed inquiry report from the Rajasthan government.
It may be mentioned that the children are now under the care and protection of the government if Rajasthan at government licensed shelter home, I – India, Jan Kala Sahitya Manch Sansthan and Surman Sansthan.
It may also be recalled that of the 21 children from Manipur some were from Ukhrul district. The Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (Tangkhul Students Union) had demanded stringent action against those involved in the trafficking.
Leave a Reply