Ashram owner held in Rajasthan, charged with sexual exploitation

Jaipur: Rajasthan police have arrested the owner of an 'ashram' on charges of sexually exploiting children belonging to poor families, police said Wednesday.

Ram Singh, 35, the owner of Eklavya Ashram in Hanumangarh town, some 400 km from Jaipur, was arrested late Tuesday after the parents of several children approached the district administration accusing him of sexually exploiting their wards.

"The ashram has been operating for the past 15 years. Children from poor families live here and study. of the 84 children studying in the ashram currently, 26 are orphans. Lot of people in the town used to give hefty donations for the ashram," a police officer said.

"Family members of some children approached the district collector recently and alleged that Ram Singh was sexually exploiting their wards. An enquiry was ordered and a team of police and administration officials took the statements of the children," said the officer.

He said the children confirmed they were sexually abused.

"A first information report was registered against Singh and he was arrested Tuesday night," said the officer.

The police have got some of the children medically examined.

"Singh is being interrogated. The statements of other staff at the ashram are also being recorded," said the officer.