Rescued kids narrate ordeals
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 09 2010: "Living in Chennai was like hell.

We were exploited in every manner like forcing us to clean toilets and cook foods besides subjecting us to physical and mental harassment all the time", said Bem (name changed).

Bem is among the 19 kids who were brought to Imphal yesterday after they were rescued from an illegal children home of Chennai.

The rescued kids were handed over to their much relieved parents in a simple programme held at Observation Home, Takyel where Social Welfare Minister N Loken, Social Commissioner Letkhogin Haokip, Social Welfare Director S Saratkumar, officials of Child Welfare Committee Thoubal and Bishnupur were present.

Narrating about their ordeal in Chennai, Bem choked with emotion said they were forced to clean toilets and cook foods.

A rescued child weeps while narrating her ordeals

"They also did us physically irritating activities", the girl said.

"Even as we were subjected to all kinds of illtreatment, we were never fed fully.

In case, any of us drop things like utensils by mistake, we were physically assaulted most brutally", Bem recalled.

"We were also thrashed regularly for not cooking food to their taste" .

The 19 kids brought to Imphal yesterday were rescued from Chennai based Reach Home Foundation and Children Care Home.

While 16 were rescued from Reach Home, another three were rescued from the latter.

Ten of the rescued kids are girls.

All the kids are between 5-13 years.

Some of the girls who have reached adolescence hinted that they were sexually abused.

"They did many things irritating to the body", said Bem who is about 13 years old.

James (name changed), another 13 year old boy said that they were fed rotten rice and meat.

"We are forced to collect firewood from jungle.

But we were never given any sort of treatment when ill".

"They charred the hand of one of my friends with hot iron for grudging while working.

Another friend was treated with hot water and salt for complaining about scabies", James recounted.

"One girl who stayed together with us was called by the 'pastor' to his room every night and bolted the room from inside and we, boys were asked to massage the pastor's son named Beni and one Gita.

The girl called by the pastor regularly had left the home earlier", James narrated.

Although the kids gave indications of sexual harassment, officials of Social Welfare Department maintained that no sign of sexual abuse could be observed during medical examination conducted yesterday.

An eight year old girl said that they were not allowed to study regularly.

"But we were asked to read dictionary and learn speaking English", the girl said.

The 19 rescued kids belong to Bishnupur and Imphal West districts.

One parent said, "We never thought our children would be subjected to such inhuman treatment.

We sent our children to Chennai with Rs 10,000 each for schooling in view of the frequent disturbances to academic atmosphere being encountered in Manipur".

Another mother said that she cannot afford private schools.

"We sent out children to Chennai on the promise of free schooling thinking that the children will learn more languages and attain broader outlook at Chennai", the mother said.

Cursing those child traffickers who duped them, the parents appealed to the authority concerned to award exemplary punishments to the frauds.

Social Welfare Minister N Loken appealed to all parents to consult with Social Welfare Department before sending children outside Manipur for education.

Even as two main accused in the child trafficking case, Keisham Rakesh (25) of Sawombung Gate and Samom Herojit of Lourembam were arrested by Chennai Police, they have been released on bail.

Two other accused, Immanuel and Christopher are still absconding.

Many of the rescued kids are suffering from rash or scabies while most of the kids look extremely emaciated.

The children and parents were seen crying with joy hugging each other at their re-union.