Hyderabad horror: 3 more kids accuse juvenile home supervisor; new FIR filed under POCSO

HYDERABAD: A day after the supervisor of the state-run Juvenile Welfare And Correctional Centre in Saidabad was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a 10-year-old, three more minors came forward on Tuesday to file similar complaints against the accused.

The boys, aged between 12 and 14 years, confessed to officials at the centre that they too were exploited by the supervisor who has been working there since 2022.

Acting on their statement, the department of correctional services suspended another supervisor, a house master, and staff member at the facility for negligence. The person in-charge of the Saidabad juvenile home was also transferred to another institution, pending a detailed inquiry."A departmental inquiry has since found the accused guilty. We have submitted our findings to the cops accordingly," said an official from the department tasked with heading the inquiry.Saidabad police, meanwhile, registered a second FIR against the accused on Tuesday. He was booked under Section 5 (d) (l) read with 6 of the POCSO Act, and 351 (2) (criminal intimidation) of BNS. "After the first FIR on Monday, we have now added a second one based on the complaint of another child.

We are yet to speak to the other survivors. Once we record their statements, we will take appropriate action accordingly," said Saidabad inspector B Chandra Mohan.The supervisor, who has been arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a 10-year-old and three other minors at the state-run Juvenile Welfare And Correctional Centre in Saidabad, tried to deflect the blame during initial enquiry, according to an official at the Saidabad centre. "When we first grilled him in the presence of police, he claimed he was being falsely accused. Instead he put the blame on the children and said they filed the complaint because he stopped them from engaging in acts of homosexuality," said the official, adding, "Later, however, during thorough interrogation he confessed to the offence."The official further said the incident went unnoticed so far as the primary survivor showed no signs of being disturbed and did not disclose anything during counselling sessions. "He is a very lively kid. He is very active in sports and other activities. The only thing that our counsellors shared was that he repeatedly expressed reluctance to stay at the centre. But most kids who come here are reluctant, so we just thought that he needs time to settle down," the official added.The centre has also initiated counselling for all children and are reviewing safety and monitoring protocols at state-run juvenile homes to prevent such incidents.