Maneka expresses concern over sex crimes in shelter homes

Union Minister Maneka Gandhi Thursday expressed concern over sexual assaults in children's shelter homes and increasing incidents of NRI grooms abandoning their brides.

She asked the police force to keep a close eye on such crimes and the arrest of culprits.

Speaking at an event, where a national registry of sex offenders was launched by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Gandhi pulled up representatives of the states which did not respond to a letter sent by Women and Child Development Ministry asking how many 'rape kits', a specially-designed kit which helps carry out immediate medical investigation into sexual assault cases, were procured by them.

"Twenty to thirty per cent of sexual assaults take place in shelter homes. In Muzaffarpur in Bihar, the head of a shelter home allegedly sexually assaulted several children, but he was not arrested immediately. There was a tunnel from the shelter home to his residence. That means the crimes must have taken place in his residence. I appeal to all DGPs to keep a close eye on all shelter homes," she said.

Besides Singh and Gandhi, the event was attended by Union Ministers of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and top officials of the ministries of home and women and child development. Top police and civil officers of the states attended the event via video conferencing.

Flagging the increasing incidents of abandonment of brides by NRIs and foreign grooms, Gandhi said initially there was an impression that such incidents took place only in Punjab which was incorrect.

"Such incidents take place across the country. We have reports of eight to ten cases every day where a foreigner comes (here), weds a woman, uses her for a week and then abandon her. Such women are neither married, nor widows. Please keep an eye on such incidents and take action and ensure cancellation of the passports of such men," she said.

The women and child development minister pulled up the representatives of the states, who attended the event through vide conference, saying not a single state responded to a letter written by her ministry some time ago on the issue of procurement of 'rape kits'