Dehradun: Accusing the state government of trying to cover up alleged sexual exploitation of inmates at the city’s lone government-run shelter for women in distress, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri today said he will take up the matter with the National Commission for Women for an impartial probe into the case.
“Social security is the biggest need of the women who seek shelter in such homes. Despite the alleged sexual exploitation of the women inmates at the city-based Nari Niketan coming to light much earlier, the state government kept shying away from ordering a probe into the case initially,” Khanduri said in a statement here a day after the state government ordered an SIT probe into the matter.
Criticising the State Women’s Commission for its silence on the issue, the BJP MP from Pauri said he will take the matter to the NCW so that it is probed in an impartial manner and the guilty are punished.
Two top officials of Nari Niketan, the city’s lone government-run shelter for women in distress were suspended a couple of days back after an investigation by the administration found irregularities in its functioning.
A probe by the SIT was also ordered into allegations about sexual exploitation of some inmates at the facility.
Suspensions of Nari Niketan Superintendent Meenakshi Pokhriyal and Superintendent incharge Anita Maindolaand the SIT probe follow media reports about alleged sexual exploitation of some women inmates at the facility.