Rape, torture, monkey attacks: Tales of horror from this Christian couple run home in TN

A woman from Odisha was rescued from the road and brought to this ashram. For the next five years, she was raped, tortured and a set of ferocious monkeys were set on her

In a major development, 109 men and 33 women were rescued from the Anbu Jothi Ashram, a rehabilitation home in Kundalapuliyur, Villupuram in Tamil Nadu.

The Ashram has been in operation for the past 17 years without a permit or any kind of monitoring by the government.

On December 17 2022, Salim Khan a US citizen had petitioned the Madras High Court seeking action after he had learnt that his father-in-law, Jawahirullah had gone missing from the Ashram. It was following this complaint that horrific tales of rape and torture of the inmates came to light.

Investigations showed that the inmates were tortured and raped. The facility attracted scores of homeless people since a free stay and food was promised. It was also learnt that many had been sedated and their heads shaven to give the impression that they were mentally unstable.

Jawahirullah was reportedly admitted to the Abu Jothi ashram on December 4 2021. However he disappeared from there. Salim asked the employees of the ashram about the whereabouts of his father-in-law, and they informed him that he had been sent to another facility in Bengaluru, which was also associated with the same ashram.

When the Tamil Nadu police arrived at the ashram for investigation, the director of the Bengaluru ashram, Raju alias Auto Raja said that the elderly man had escaped from there by smashing open the bathroom window. Following this Salim filed a habeas corpus petition in the Madras High Court in a bid to find his father-in-law.

When the Madras HC gave the go-ahead to probe the matter, they found that hundreds of people in the ashram had gone missing. The police officers were able to rescue 142 persons including 109 men and 33 women. A body was also rescued.

The probe learnt that many had been sexually molested by the staff members. Other had been tortured, shackled and monkeys were allowed to attack them. The ashram has now been blacklisted, while 142 rescued persons have been either relocated to another facility, while some have reunited with their families.

In the Villupuram case, police arrested J Mariya today who ran the illegal Anbu Jothi Ashram along with her husband Jubin who is accused of rape by a lady resident. He will be arrested after he’s discharged following treatment for being bitten by a monkey. pic.twitter.com/ZizRBkE7Vw

— Divya Chandrababu (@bydivyac) February 15, 2023

Two days after the raids, the police found that more persons had been kept imprisoned at different locations in Kottakuppam, which is 50 kilometres away from the Anu Jothi Ashram.

Similar incidents were also reported from the ashram in Villupuram. Those rescued have been kept at the Villupuram Medical College Hospital.

N Shreenatha, the Superintendent of Police, Villupuram said that eight people had been arrested for violating applicable statutes, including Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Harassment of women Act, 1988. The accused have also been booked for rape under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code. The SP also revealed that they are looking into the Bengaluru ashram where 15 persons were transported. Four have been arrested, two are absconding and the owner and wife are in hospital, the SP disclosed.

Shreenatha also said that a probe is underway on the claims that the ashram staff were burying and cremating unidentifiable and unclaimed dead persons in remote sections of the village. He also said that a search is being conducted for those missing from the Bengaluru facility.

Narrating the tales of horror, it was found that a woman from Odisha who was rescued from the road was brought to this facility. In the next five years, she was repeatedly beaten up and raped, while being threatened into silence. When she tried to resist, the authorities sent two ferocious monkeys that the owners kept in a cage.

The ashram set up in 2005 was never inspected. Following the revelation, the district authorities have begun sealing the ashram and all its affiliated branches.