Kerala Elderly Commission Intervenes After Old Age Home Abuse Case
Thiruvananthapuram: A day after the arrest of the operator of an old age home in Thenmala on charges of sexually assaulting two elderly women inmates, the state elderly commission on Saturday stepped in and assured rehabilitation and protection for the remaining residents of the facility.
Commission chairman K Somaprasad, along with members, visited the old age home and interacted with inmates to assess their living conditions and welfare. Somaprasad said steps would be taken to shift the inmates to government-run old age homes to ensure their safety and well-being. He added that the commission would submit a recommendation to the government seeking their rehabilitation at the earliest.
“The commission will examine all aspects of the case in detail. Before recommending action, the accused will also be given an opportunity to present his version. However, if the allegations are found to be true, strict action will be recommended and pursued,” Somaprasad said.
The intervention comes a day after Thenmala police arrested a 52-year-old Anchal native following complaints by two women inmates aged 72 and 71. The case came to light after the women escaped from the facility and informed locals about the alleged abuse. According to the survivors, the accused subjected inmates to physical and mental harassment and sexually abused them. They also alleged that he forced residents to consume alcohol, verbally abused them, and exposed himself before female inmates.
Police are also investigating allegations that CCTV cameras were installed in bathrooms used by women residents. Authorities had earlier found the old age home functioning in unhygienic conditions and are examining whether it possessed the required permissions to operate. There were 13 inmates at the facility, including four women. Following his arrest on Friday, the accused was produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody. Police said further investigation is under way.
