New Delhi: During an examination of shelter homes in the national capital  Delhi on Thursday, an expert committee set up by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) recovered that girls living in a Dwarka shelter home were allegedly  assaulted by its staff, which often put chilli powder in their private parts to discipline them.

The DCW members talked with girls aged 6 to 15 and some girls who alleged that the female staff put chilli powder in their private parts as punishment. They were also forced to eat chilli powder. Any sort of rebellious behavior from the children would be met with this serious and grave sentence because of which they had become obedient, the finding stated.

Reports also suggested that the girls were also forced to wash utensils and clothes, clean rooms and toilets, and perform other kitchen chores, as the home did not have sufficient staff. There was only one cook in the home for the 22 girls and staff, and the quality of food was not fine, the statement  added.

They were also flattened with scales for not keeping their rooms clean and not listening to the staff. They were not  allowed to go home during summer and winter vacations.

An FIR has been lodged against the home under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

The committee members shared the allegations with DCW chief Swati Maliwal who arrived the home at 8 pm. Maliwal called on the Dwarka deputy commissioner of police, who sent a team of senior officers to the home and recorded statements of the girls.