Rajasthan hostel warden arrested for branding children with hot iron rods over bedwetting

A 40-year-old warden of a residential hostel in Barmer district, Rajasthan, has been arrested for allegedly branding children with hot iron rods as punishment for bedwetting. The incident came to light after a child, aged between 8 and 10, fled the hostel on August 16 with severe burn marks on his body, alerting his family and prompting local attention.

The hostel, run by the Harpalethar Mahadev Temple since 2022 in Sedwa, houses around 25 children, mostly from nomadic, tribal, orphaned, and underprivileged families. Children residing there receive both education and religious training under the Gurukul system. Reports suggest that Narayan Giri, a resident of Bharatpur and caretaker at the hostel, allegedly carried out the branding on multiple children over time.

Local sarpanch Mohanlal revealed that complaints against the warden had been made previously but were reportedly ignored to protect the trust’s reputation. Families of other children visited the hostel after the incident and alleged that several children bore burn injuries, prompting them to file formal complaints with the authorities.

Sedwa police station officer Deep Singh confirmed the arrest of Narayan Giri, stating, “A complaint was received alleging torture of children at the hostel. One person has been detained, and further investigation is underway.” The police, in coordination with the child protection department, are assessing the condition of the hostel and ensuring the safety of all children residing there.

The incident has sparked widespread concern, with photographs of the injuries circulating online. Authorities are investigating whether additional children were subjected to similar abuse. Families have demanded strict action against those responsible and called for better monitoring of residential institutions to prevent further incidents.