After furore over media reports on its dilapidated state recently, the Assam Home for Women at Guwahati is grabbing headlines again over the alleged rape of a physically challenged inmate.The 23-year-old woman, an orphan, tested positive in pregnancy test when the authorities took her to a private nursing home. She has been referred to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital for an official report, police said, adding that they have registered a rape case against the chowkidar.The accused, Raju Ansari, has been absconding since Saturday after the woman charged him with sexual abuse by pointing a finger at him. The police have taken the girl’s statement with the help of a sign-language expert. The authorities have also suspended two matrons for dereliction of duty. ‘‘It would be immature to confirm that the chowkidar is the culprit. But his running away points the finger of suspicion at him,’’ B. Gogoi, officer in-charge, Jalukbari police station, said. The Home has 74 inmates of whom 25 are juveniles.While Minister for Social Welfare Gautam Roy is out of station, Minister of State Sharifa Begum, who returned to Guwahati this afternoon, said she had heard about the incident, but was yet to get details. ‘‘The Social Welfare Secretary is on leave. He will return only on Wednesday. I am going to the State Home tomorrow to gather first-hand information about what has happened,’’ Begum said, adding, ‘‘I will get back to the media on Wednesday, but we are definitely going to take the matter seriously.’’
