Inmates fled from Children Home
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 15 2011: Following alleged ill-treatment by the owner, in all eight young inmates have fled from the Destitute Children Home at Lei-Ingkhol, Chingmeirong and taken shelter with Kangleipak Students' Association.

Talking to mediapersons at the office of Kangleipak Students' Association here in the afternoon, the eight young inmates, all boys and below 11 and 12 years of age, said that they fled from the Children Home in the wee hours of today as they could not bear with the ill-treatment of the Home owner whom all the inmates addressed as Mamma.

The Home owner 'Mamma' has been identified as one Ahanthem Tolen.

Informing that there are in all 25 children including three girls in the Destitute Children Home at Lei-Ingkhol, the escaped inmates disclosed that Mamma Tolen not only made them do hard work including earth digging but also beat them up even for some slight mistakes committed by them.

At times, Mamma Tolen scolded them mentioning their deceased parents and did not give food to eat.

The eatables donated by the visitors were also kept inside the almirah and brought out only after it becomes mouldy, the escaped young inmates alleged.

They said that they would not like to go back to the Children Home as they would be subjected to similar ill-treatments by their Mamma Tolen.

The president of Kangleipak Students' Association Y Pradipkumar categorically stated that the Association would never tolerate ill-treatment of young children being kept in Children Homes and converting operation of Children Homes into some sort of trading activities.

Though no money is supposed to be charged for keeping destitute children, it has been learnt that Rs 1000 is being levied from each children staying in the Destitute Children Home at Lei-Ingkhol, Pradipkumar said, while announcing that the Association would start inspection of the Children Homes in Manipur very soon.

Pradipkumar has also directed the authorities of the Destitute Children Home at Lei-Ingkhol as well as the guardians of the children staying in the Home to come to the Association at 1 pm tomorrow for discussion.

In the meantime, all the eight escaped inmates would be handed over to Childline, he informed.

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