Nun running orphanage held for rape of inmate

New Delhi: The Gurgaon police has arrested Sister Lily Barretto, the chief patron of Ujjwal Niketan, a child care centre, in connection with an alleged case of rape of an inmate.   

A minor girl from the child care centre had earlier alleged before the women counsellor appointed by the police that she was raped multiple times by one of the staff members. It was a shocking revelation following which a case was immediately lodged. 

The 13-year-old, who is studying in Class 5, also mentioned that the situation was known to the head nun, but rather than helping her, she reportedly intimidated the victim to remain silent on the matter.

In 2014, the girl’s father had admitted her in the centre along with her seven-year-old brother. The father told the centre that he was unable to raise his children due to financial difficulties.  The orphanage acquiesced to his request and admitted the girl and her brother. The mother of the girl had died before they were admitted to the centre. 

After dodging the law enforcement officials for months, the 65-year-old nun was arrested following a raid at the two centres in Sector 10 and Hayatpur. Ironically, the arrested nun had been earlier felicitated by the district administration for her philanthropic work.

The police also said that they will interrogate the nun in a bid to know the name of the culprit. Meanwhile, the police was also recording the statement of other inmates of the orphanage to know whether they too were assaulted. Further investigation is on in the matter.