Hyderabad:
The superintendent and supervisor of a government-run juvenile home in Hyderabad, where an 11-year-old was found dead in a mysterious condition this week, have been suspended.
Police say that preliminary investigation point to negligence on their part.
The boy was found dead in his bed on Wednesday morning in the home located in the city's Saidabad area. Eleven boys had slept there and the police suspect that he was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered by a fellow inmate.
Critics, meanwhile, say that jail-like atmosphere, overcrowding, lack of segregation of young and older boys, and absence of round-the-clock adult supervision must also share the blame.
"Where was the adult supervision when this incident happened? There is supposed to be a House Father, where was he? Are we going to establish homes, and lock children up inside at night and adults will sleep outside?" asked Isidore Philips, Child Rights activist and former chairperson of the Child Welfare committee.
"Everyone should know about child rights, juvenile justice Act, the Integrated Child Protection and yet something like this happens. We need to rectify this, not just in this home but in all homes across Telangana and the country," said Shantha Sinha, former chairperson of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
A 16-year-old boy, who is said to have confessed to the crime, was also abused in the past but does not seem to have got counselling and treatment, experts say. A single counsellor looks after the needs of hundreds of children.
No supervisor was reportedly present in the premises when the crime occurred. Two supervisors who were on contract had earlier been suspended.
The boy who died had been looking forward to go back to his home in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, from where he had run away in August 2013. No police personnel had been available to escort him home, so he had to wait.
Over 180 boys live in two dormitories of the building that looks more like a jail. There is no segregation of boys who are between five and 18. They have no privacy; the bathrooms have no doors. There is also no round-the-clock supervision.
Experts say the conditions breed abuse and vulnerability.