NGO office sealed, two arrested for ‘illegal adoption’ of Covid orphans

SRINAGAR — A day after filing FIR against it in connection with the alleged “illegal adoption and sale” of Covid orphans, J-K Police sealed office of a non-governmental organization (NGO) in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday.

“Police Station Pampore received a written application from Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee (CWC) District Pulwama for registration of FIR in the instant case,” a police spokesman said.

Acting swiftly, he said, Police Station registered a case FIR No. 153 of 2021 on December 1 under relevant sections of law.

“During preliminary investigation, two accused were identified and arrested,” he said and identified them as Mohammad Amin Rather son of Ghulam Mohd Rather of Bemina and Aijaz Ahmed Dar son of Abdul Hameed Dar of Pampore.

“Pertinently, the duo is running a trust in Samboora, Pampore by the name of Global Welfare Charitable Trust. The office of the Trust has been sealed,” he said, adding, “The background of the Trust is also being ascertained by the Police.”

Further, investigation is going on, the spokesman added.

The FIR was lodged at Police Station Pampore on asking of the Mission Director, ICPS J&K, following a report in which serious allegations were made against two people by the NGO.

Also, Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Sheetal Nanda took up the issue with IGP Kashmir in order to ensure immediate action in the matter and initiate legal course of action under relevant laws, an official spokesman had said in a statement.

In addition, Mission Director, ICPS J&K, Shabnam Kamili issued instant orders to Child Welfare Committees to meet Covid orphans personally which have already been identified by the department and uploaded on different online portals of Government of India and submit a report to the Directorate of ICPS.

Further, fact finding committees were also constituted for Jammu and Kashmir divisions in order to ascertain the number of orphans/Covid orphans and their well-being in all the districts of J&K, the statement added.