An official at the Rajkiya Baal Grah child shelter in Agra can be seen viciously thrashing a minor girl with slippers while the victim lays on the bed.

Agra, UP: In a disturbing incident an official at a child shelter in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra was caught beating up a minor inmate with slippers as the victim lay sobbing helplessly on the bed. A video of the horrifying incident which has gone viral on social media platforms showed the woman mercilessly thrashing the victim with slippers as the minor girl lay on the bed.

The incident took place at the Rajkiya Baal Grah child shelter in Agra and the official in question is reportedly the officiating superintendent of the home.

In #Agra‘s govt run children shelterhome (Pachkuiyaan), Poonam Lal, the center superintendent was caught slapping a girl with slippers. Earlier she was booked for abetment to suicide in #Prayagraj district in 2021 after a 15-yr-old girl allegedly killed her self in shelter home pic.twitter.com/JE5V56jR7l

— Arvind Chauhan 💮🛡️ (@Arv_Ind_Chauhan) September 12, 2023

Meanwhile, officials said the authorities have taken cognizance of the incident after the video went viral on social media sites. They said that the district magistrate has ordered the district probationary officer (DPO) to investigate the matter and submit his report.

On the recommendation of the district magistrate, director, women welfare department in Lucknow has suspended the officiating superintendent, Poonam Pal, after the DPO visited the child shelter and submitted his report.

After visiting the shelter home with the city magistrate on Tuesday, DPO Ajay Pal Singh admitted that such thrashing of a child was ‘not acceptable’.

As per reports, the incident took place on  September 4 and was captured on camera by another official at the child shelter. The minor victim, who can be seen lying on the bed, was thrashed with her own slippers by superintendent Poonam Pal, the video showed. However, the reason and motive behind Pal’s actions is not known yet and is being investigated, officials said.

On being questioned about her action, Pal refused to comment on the incident as said she has provided her version of the event to the DPO.

“I have given my version to district probationary officer (DPO) Ajay Pal Singh. I have nothing else to say,” Poonam Pal said, according to IANS.

“I and the city magistrate visited the Rajkiya Baal Grah on Tuesday and came to know that the girl had been locking herself along with other children in a box so that they could remain hidden,” said the DPO.

(With IANS inputs)