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According to a Hindustan Times report, Emmanuel Seva Group, an ‘illegal’ shelter was raided by Police and rescued 30 children belonging to poor families.

On December 29, two homes belonging to the group were raided by the Police in Greater Noida and Meerut. A nine-year-old boy narrated the horrific tale to HT, where he said that the kids were forcibly converted to Christianity, made to starve for days, hung by the wrists from a ceiling fan and even thrashed remorselessly for failing to recite bible verses.

“I was allowed to meet my parents once a month for only 15 minutes. The only thing I was taught was the Bible. They forced me to memorise its passages,” the boy said.

He also mentioned that the kids were forced to consume buffalo meat and were ‘paraded’ for potential donors.

“They gave us good clothes whenever visitors came. They made us stand in line and recite Bible passages. Faltering meant a beating with sticks and belts later, once the guests left, the shelter in-charge snatched away our clothes, sweets and gifts and we were back in rags again,” the boy added.

The Bisrakh police registered a case after the raid and the police are investigating whether the caretakers have the permission to run the shelter. They are also probing the rescued children’s claims.

One of the victim’s mother complained through children’s helpline which eventually led to the raids. She met Josua Devraj at a Delhi hospital who assured her that he will raise her children and make them IAS officers. The accused Josua refused to comment on the issue.