Inmates protest against youth's death, 12 held

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 4: Malda police arrested 12 inmates of state run Sahapur Child Welfare Home on charges of rioting and damaging three government vehicles following a complaint lodged by the Malda sub divisional officer late last night.Police had rounded up 31 inmates and four inmates have managed to escape, administrative officials said. Yesterday, a 14 year old boy, Rajib Soren died after being electrocuted causing inmates of that Home to turn violent. Agitated inmates torched government vehicles and tried to kill an officer in charge of the district mass education department.The administration has decided to close down the Home till reconstruction is completed. The Superintendent, who was absent at the time of incident, was asked to vacate the Home soon. The administration also lodged another FIR against the Superintendent of the Home, Mr. Sukumar De Das this evening. The rest of the inmates were shifted to Bharat Sebashram Sangha where the administration arranged food for them for the next two days.Also the parents of the inmates have been informed to take away their respective wards within two days.The district magistrate Mr CR Das has sought a detailed report of the incident and status report of the home from the Malda SDO, Ms Arunima De.The Malda DM today issued a probe into the incident which would be submitted within seven days. A senior officer above the rank of the SDO will inquire into the incident. Twelve inmates were produced in the Malda Court today. Five of them identified as Rice Murmu, Ajoy Soren, Uttpal Mandal, Shambhu Saha, Jharu Biswas, all above 18 years, were sent to Malda jail, police said. Of the 12 inmates, seven were sent to the Juvenile Court in Cooch Behar. “Despite several requests to repair the electric wiring, no action was taken”, arrested inmates said. “Inmates came down heavily yesterday after the death of another inmate who was electrocuted", said additional S P, Mr. S K Sarkar.Another decision against 10 inmates of the Home provoked inmates to resort to violence and kill Mrs Bharati Goswami, officer of the district mass education yesterday, official said. “It was decided that 10 inmates, who were above 18 year old, would have to leave the Home and the district inspector of schools was asked to get them admitted to other schools considering their respective addresses”, said Ms Arunima De. “Inmates were aggrieved against Mrs Goswami because she casually disclosed the decision to them a few days ago”, she added.After the incident corruption charges regarding finance against the Superintendent have come up. The Superintendent claimed that more than 93 inmates were lodging whereas it was found that about 50 to 60 inmates used to put up. The government meanwhile would spend Rs. 900 per month for each inmate. The anomalies were detected recently from the attendance of the voluntary private tutors engaged for the inmates there.There was sufficient fund for maintenance of electric wiring, said an administrative officer adding “Rs. 5.98 lakh was granted for modernisation of the Home and more than 6 lakhs was awaiting approval”.“Some youths from outside would stay there considering the Home as ‘hotel’ and used to work out side”, said Malda SDO, who is also chairman of the child welfare home committee. #####