Tamil Nadu: Forced Conversions Took Place In Horror Home Anbu Jothi Ashram Says NCPCR Member RG Anand

RG Anand, a member of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), who inspected the Anbu Jothi Ashram along with district officials recently, said that forced conversions was allegedly one of the objectives of the Ashram that was owned by Jubin Baby and his wife Maria.

He said that a parent of a minor inmate of the Ashram had testified regarding the same before the commission.

A room which was found to have been used for conversions and the office of Jubin Baby were sealed by revenue officials.

The NCPCR has asked for a report from the Dean of the Government Medical College in Villupuram, regarding the finding of huge quantities of psychiatric drugs from the Ashram premises.

On 27 February, the Tamil Nadu police informed the Madras High Court that 26310 haloperidol and 12530 sodium valproate tablets were seized. Some of the other drugs seized in smaller quantities were diazepam, lithium carbonate and clozapine.

The psychiatric drugs that were found had 'Tamil Nadu Government Supply-Not for Sale' written on them.

It also ordered the Villupuram police and the Child Welfare Committee to conduct an inspection of other children's homes in the district and submit a report to the NCPCR within a week.

The Ashram in Villupuram which calls itself a 'residential home for mentally ill and destitutes', was found to have illegally confined a lot of people and branded them as mentally ill.

Many women who were rescued have said that they were sexually assaulted. Others added that if they resisted, they would be chained and beaten with iron rods or monkeys would be unleashed on them.

Many fake authorisation letters from the police authorising the Ashram to bury dead bodies have been found. This has led to the suspicion of human and organ trafficking.

The happenings in the Ashram came to light because of a complaint by the son-in-law of Zafirullah, an inmate of the Ashram who had gone missing.

Read our coverage of the case here.