Indore child deaths: No FIR, ashram gets showcause notice

INDORE: It's been three days since Indore administration and police came to know of the child deaths at Shri Yugpurush Dham ashram, yet there is no FIR, and no action has been taken against anybody, except for an SDM who was shunted for laughing during an inspection of the home.
Amid growing clamour for legal action against the ashram over the six child deaths, the administration - on basis of an interim probe report - showcaused the ashram management on Thursday, asking for a reply in three days on why an FIR should not be filed against them for hiding the death of a child.TOI on Thursday reported how an 11-year-old boy, Ankit Garg, was the first to die on June 29, but the ashram authorities handed over the body to his parents without a word to the authorities. He was buried without autopsy. This was followed by five more deaths over the next three days.
The probe committee's report says that Shri Yugpurush Dham Boudhik Vikas Kendra management hid the death of a child and failed to inform the administration about the spread of infection.
"We have issued a notice to the ashram management asking why a criminal case should not be registered against them for concealing information about the death and other irregularities," district collector Asheesh Singh said on Thursday.
A committee member told TOI, on condition of anonymity, that the first symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea were reported at the ashram on June 27, but the first hospital admission of children took place on July 2 - the day administration officials visited the facility.
The first death was on June 29. Another died on June 30, allegedly due to seizures. Four more children died inside the ashram on July 1-2 after suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea.
Questions are being raised about the perceived lack of action against the ashram management.
"Why are the ashram operators not arrested? Six children have died. They have hidden deaths. This is criminal," Congress leader KK Mishra said. He also questioned why agencies like National Commission for Protection of Child Rights are not taking cognizance of the incident.
Collector Singh said, "We will wait for a reply from the ashram before taking appropriate action."
The ashram has 204 inmates, including orphans and those suffering from mental ailments.
"The ashram has children beyond its capacity. We are trying to shift some kids to other NGOs or govt institutions," Singh said while talking to TOI. TNN