Bantala: An elderly woman was arrested for allegedly beating up her three years old granddaughter and keeping her under lock and key at Gadataras village under Bantala police limits in Angul district Sunday.
Police rescued the wounded child and handed her over to the child welfare committee (CWC). She is presently undergoing treatment at the district headquarters hospital (DHH).
Sources said that Asit Rout of Gadataras village has two daughters – one is five years old and the other one is three. Asit’s wife Dipti died a year ago and since then Asit had been living with his parents and two children.
According to the villagers, Asit’s mother Kumudini Rout would often thrash the children. Sunday morning her torture crossed all limits when she not only beat her granddaughter up severely but also locked her in a room.
An Anganwadi worker and a member of gram panchayat informed the villagers, district child welfare officer and IIC, Bantala police station when Kumudini did not open the room despite their request.
Then the villagers and sarpanch intervened and the girl was rescued. Later, police reached the spot and handed her over to the CWC. Additional superintendent of police of Investigation Unit of Crime Against Women (IUCAW) Basant Kumar Pradhan reached the spot and got the girl’s health checked up. Basing on the complaint of Tapas Samal, a villager, police registered a case and arrested Kumudini in the afternoon.
According to Anganwadi worker Bidyutprava Singh, Kumudini had thrashed her granddaughter with a cane and then locked her in a room. She did not open the door even as the child was crying and asking for water.
Sarpanch Runubala Majhi, village committee president Dhulia Sahu and many others have demanded the girl be kept at shelter home.
When asked, Asit said his mother had canned his daughter in his absence. He had never before heard of his mother punishing his children like this. “I will from now onwards keep my daughter with me and will take care of my children,” he added.
When contacted, district child welfare officer Gourishankar Behera said, “Any decision regarding rehabilitation of the girl would be taken only after her recovery.”
PNN
