9 girls go missing from Delhi shelter home, Sisodia orders officers' suspension

New Delhi [India], Dec 3 (ANI): At least nine girls have gone missing from Sanskar Ashram shelter home in east Delhi's Dilshad Garden area on the intervening night of December 1 and December 2.
The home authorities claim that they do not know when the girls went missing. The girls' absence from the shelter home came to the notice of the authorities only on the morning of December 2. An FIR has been registered by the Delhi Police, a statement from the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) said.
DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal wrote to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia demanding strict action against the erring officials. Sisodia has directed the Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Dev to suspend the concerned officers.
Terming the incident as serious and unfortunate, Sisodia wrote in the letter, "Department of Women and Child Development has failed in its duty to provide a safe and secure environment for minor girls who were placed under the protection of the state. Further, the instances of earlier lapses on part of the same home which were not acted upon by the Department as mentioned by chairperson of DCW is also extremely serious and raises a serious doubt on the intention of the officers of Department of Women and Child Development."
"In view of the same, it is directed that the District Officer, North-East, WCD and Superintendent, SAG Home are immediately placed under suspension and their charge is given to competent and sensitive officers," Sisodia stated further in the letter.
DCW has said that the lapse of the home authorities in securing the home is extremely serious and warrants immediate intervention. It is to be noted that these nine girls were transferred from a shelter home in Dwarka to Sanskar Ashram shelter house on May 4.
Terming the incident as shocking and a matter of great shame, Maliwal appealed to the Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and the Delhi government to take cognizance of the matter and ensure that the shelter homes are run in a safe and secure manner.
"I was informed that the missing girls were rescued by the DCW from various trafficking rackets. I demand that those people who are behind this incident should be arrested and given the strongest punishment," Maliwal told ANI.
Furthermore, the DCW is writing to Delhi Police recommending the investigation of the case to be transferred to the Crime Branch of Delhi Police so that urgent and immediate action is taken to trace the girls. (ANI)