Sri Vijaya Puram, June 30: Billiground Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against an employee of the Ramakrishna Mission after a 13-year-old boy residing at the institution allegedly complained of physical assault before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), North & Middle Andaman.
The FIR was registered on June 26 under Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, against an employee identified as Chitranjeet following a preliminary enquiry conducted on the basis of a complaint submitted by the Child Welfare Committee. The investigation has been entrusted to Sub-Inspector Deepti Minj.
The Ramakrishna Mission is one of India’s oldest and most respected philanthropic and spiritual organisations, founded in 1897 by Swami Vivekananda to promote the ideals of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. The Mission runs schools, colleges, hospitals, orphanages, student hostels, rural development programmes and disaster relief initiatives across India and overseas. In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it has had a presence for several decades and operates educational institutions, healthcare services and welfare programmes for children, making it one of the islands’ most prominent charitable organisations.
According to the complaint, the matter came to light after the child was produced before the Child Welfare Committee, where he allegedly refused to return to the institution and claimed that he had been beaten by the employee. The child also reportedly expressed apprehension that he could face similar treatment if he was sent back.
The complaint was submitted by Child Welfare Committee Chairman Sujit Thankachen to the Station House Officer of Billiground Police Station, seeking registration of a criminal case and investigation into the allegations.
As part of the preliminary enquiry, the Legal-cum-Probation Officer of the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), North & Middle Andaman, along with a Sub-Inspector from Billiground Police Station, jointly recorded the child’s statement. According to the complaint, the child alleged that he had been assaulted without any reason and further claimed that physical punishment was a regular occurrence at the institution.
The Child Welfare Committee observed that children residing in child care institutions are legally entitled to a safe environment free from violence, intimidation and physical punishment. It stated that if the allegations are substantiated during investigation, the acts could attract penal provisions under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, in addition to other applicable laws.
Apart from the allegations of physical assault, the Committee also raised concerns over the alleged housing of children at the Ramakrishna Mission without mandatory registration and approval from the competent authority as required under the Juvenile Justice Act. The complaint requested police to examine the issue during the investigation and initiate appropriate legal action if any violations are established.
The Committee further informed police that the child was under considerable psychological stress following the alleged incident and had expressed unwillingness to attend school. Describing the matter as urgent, it urged the police to conduct a prompt enquiry in view of the child’s condition and the seriousness of the allegations.
According to the FIR, police conducted a preliminary enquiry before registering the criminal case. The complaint specifically notes that the enquiry had been completed before the FIR was registered. A copy of the complaint was also forwarded to the District Child Protection Officer, DCPU, North & Middle Andaman, requesting necessary cooperation during the investigation.
Police have stated that the allegations are under investigation and that further legal action, if any, will depend on the findings of the enquiry.
The Wave Andaman reached out to the Ramakrishna Mission for its response to the allegations. Any response received will be incorporated into this report.
