“We Are Ashamed”, Says Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Over Sexual Abuse Of Minor Girls At Muzaffarpur Home Shelter  

While speaking at launch of ‘Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana’ , a scheme for welfare of the girl child, the Bihar Chief Minister has said that reports of sexual abuse of minor girls in Muzzafarpur child shelter home were “shameful”, The Times Of India has reported.

The opposition party in Bihar Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had called for a nationwide strike demanding the resignation of Bihar Chief Minister. 11 employees of a child shelter home in Muzaffarpur were arrested on 24 July on charges of sexual abuse of inmates.

Bihar Police had rescued 44 girls from the child shelter home Muzaffarpur after receiving complaints. Sexual abuse of girls was uncovered a month ago by a Mumbai based social science institute. The key accused in the case is Brijesh Thakur, the owner of the shelter home. The state government has been accused of delaying the probe to aid some leaders who have links to the main accused.

Nitish Kumar added that the Bihar government was open to a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) monitored by the High Court. Further he added that the state’s chief secretary was advised to develop institutional mechanisms to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

The CBI has taken over the investigation from Muzaffarpur's Mahila Police Station, where the case was registered on 31 May. The case has been registered under Section 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 376 (outraging the modesty of a woman), 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 4, 6, 8, 10,12 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO).

Bihar police have been trying to locate 11 girls who are still missing from another shelter home run by the Brajesh Thakur. The Supreme Court has take Suo Motu cognisance of the matter and advised media not reveal identity of minor rape victims. It has also sought a report from the Bihar state government and the central government.