NEW DELHI: A peon in a government-run orphanage in Allahabad in the Northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has been arrested for allegedly raping three minor girls, aged six to nine, over the last few months sending waves of horror through the country. The police have arrested the peon Vidyabhushan Ojha, 52, based on a complaint filed by the Rajikiya Shishu Grih orphanage where the incident took place. The peon is believed to have been raping the girls over the last few months and had threatened the girls with dire consequences if they talked about it. The incident came to light when one of the girls spilled the beans to a childless couple who had come to adopt her. The couple immediately brought the horrifying tale to the notice of the local authorities. Inquiry into this one case, brought two more to light. The girls were sent for medical examination, which has confirmed the sexual assault. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the peon was also believed to be sexually abusing two other mentally retarded orphan girls. The state government has initiated an inquiry into this case as well as suspended the superintendent of the government run orphanage Urmila Gupta for failing to discharge her duty. The peon, Ojha who was employed on contract basis in the orphanage for the last five years has been remanded to police custody and interrogation. The state administration authorities have also called in experts to try to talk to the mentally challenged girls to confirm whether others were sexually abused as well.
