Complaint lodged against ashram for torturing inmates

Villupuram District Disabled Welfare Officer tells Keda police that an inspection found that the ashram subjected inmates to physical and mental torture; officials trying to find out the number of people admitted to the institution over the years, and those discharged or sent to places outside T.N.

In a formal police complaint, Thangavelu, the Villupuram District Disabled Welfare Officer, has said inmates of Anbu Jothi Ashram at Kundalapuliyur in the district were subjected to mental and physical torture.

Acting on the instructions of the Collector, the official, in his complaint to the Keda police, said a team of high-level officials inspected the ashram and found that it was functioning in violation of the rules and regulations.

He pointed out that people were brought to the ashram against their will. They were subjected to physical and mental torture by the staff members, who also tonsured their heads and prevented them from having any contact with their family members. The inmates were chained and not given proper treatment or food. Besides verbal and sexual abuse, the ashram staff members used monkeys to scare the victims and made them work hard without remuneration.

Suspecting a possible human trafficking to other States from the ashram, the official called for registering cases under appropriate sections of law and taking legal action against Jubin Baby, the director of Anbu Jothi Ashram, his wife Maria and others. Apart from booking the accused persons on charges of wrongful restraint, rape and assault, the Kedar police invoked provisions under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, and the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

On how the ashram had functioned illegally since 2005 without any intervention by State authorities, police sources said Jubin Baby created an impression that the Home was licensed to admit and rehabilitate mentally challenged and destitute people.

Since it was registered under the Nalla Samarariyar Charitable Trust, the police thought that the Home had the authority to accommodate and treat the mentally ill and destitute women. With government officials from different departments often visiting the premises for various functions, the police never suspected the legality of the Home and even sent beggars, wandering lunatics and others to the ashram, the sources told The Hindu on Sunday.