Bangalore: 42 Kids Rescued, Priest Accused of Abusing Them

DNA
March 1, 2012

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_bangalore-42-kids-rescued-priest-accused-of-abusing-them_1656952

The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights along with some NGOs and police rescued 42 children who had allegedly been abused at a children’s home in Challaghatta village near Marathahalli.

The home is run by an organisation called the Church of Christ.

The priest of the church, John Charles (42), is being interrogated. The police said that he admitted to having beaten some children for not doing their homework. Some girls have alleged that he also used to misbehave with them. Till the time of going to press, the police were interrogating Charles. A police officer said the children have been spoken to and, in some cases, bruise marks are fairly visible.

The police said that some girls told the rescue team that Charles used to misbehave with them in the kitchen.

They said that at times Charles used to spend the night at the premises. He lives in Cox Town with his family.

A police officer said that when they went to raid the premises – around 5 pm on Wednesday -- the children ran to them and showed them the bruise marks. Some boys alleged that Charles used to beat them with a wooden or metal scale.

Of the 42 children rescued, 19 are girls and 23 boys. All are aged between 5 and 16. Most of them are from Bangalore, Kolar and Chikkaballapur.

The home has been in existence for over 15 years now. It was earlier being run from a rented place near HAL. In 2010, it moved to the current premises in Challaghatta village.

Complaint is filed with Airport police station.