Two Catholic nuns from the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod congregation have been arrested following the escape of nine underage girls from a Church-run orphanage in Maharashtra. The incident took place on 29 June at the Vidyadeep Children's Home in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad), a government-recognised institution under the supervision of India’s Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
According to reports, the girls fled the orphanage and approached local authorities with claims of mistreatment. They allegedly caused damage to property during their escape and later submitted complaints to the CWC and district officials.
The police have since taken two nuns and one staff member into custody, as investigations continue. The orphanage, which currently cares for around 100 children, is now under legal scrutiny, with the case being monitored by the Bombay High Court.
Sister Philomena D’Souza, the provincial superior of the order, stated that the case has taken on a political tone and said the congregation is cooperating fully with the investigation. She added that the nuns have always followed proper procedures in caring for the children.
The Bishop of Aurangabad, Bernard Lancy Pinto, expressed support for the Sisters, describing their work as a century-long record of service to vulnerable children. “The Sisters at Vidyadeep Children’s Home have shown selfless dedication for over a hundred years,” he said.
Following the girls’ initial return to the orphanage, a second escape attempt reportedly took place the next day. The girls were said to have locked staff out of a building, climbed onto the roof, and injured themselves in an effort to leave the premises. They were then escorted to the district court and repeated their allegations.
While the authorities investigate the charges, the institution has denied any wrongdoing. Sources close to the facility claim that the children were not deprived of basic needs and that surveillance cameras were in place only to ensure their safety, especially for those at risk of self-harm.
The Child Welfare Committee is currently reviewing testimonies and inspecting the orphanage to determine the next steps.
Adapted from AsiaNews.
