A remote home behind high walls

CHENNAI: Paddy fields flanking the dirt roads are the only companion. While much of Paleswaram village in neighbouring Kancheepuram district is on the other side of a small hillock, St. Josephs hospice, a huge premise spread across acres, stands away from the village.

It is not just the physical distance, but almost the entire village views the home with suspicion. Stories were rife how the “bones were exported” by storing the dead bodies in the multi-tier vault for a few months and remains were soon retrieved. “You should not be here,” was the firm reply to this reporter from two policemen who were guarding the entrance of the home.  

But the villagers were ready to share tales on the home. “There were four persons with mental disabilities roaming in this area. But, now they are seen no more. We suspect this institution,” said Dayalan, who said he was a former Village Administrative Officer.

The high walls around the home and the multi-tier vault within the same premises which is meant to take care of the destitute elderly, where the bodies of demised inmates would be disposed with little monitoring
from any third party, has been fuelling speculations about the home.

As per norms, the vault for the dead could be opened only after 13 years and the remains can be pushed into a pit so that the vault could be reused. But, a police officer who was in the know of Wednesday’s inspection, said the home could be clearing the vault in a matter of a few months.

Local villagers say they have been raising complaints against the home for years, but all were in vain. Even on Tuesday, when the locals caught red-handed how a dead body was just carried in a bundle without even a stretcher, along with groceries, in a van, the Salavakkam police had booked three of the locals on charges of damaging the van and they were arrested, locals said.

On Tuesday around 3pm the van was moving on Salavakkam-Edayamputhur Road when Annammal, who was also taken to the home, raised a hue and cry. Following this the villagers intercepted the van and rescued Annammal. They staged a protest demanding action against the home and the van was taken to Salavakkam police station. On Wednesday, nearly 60 government officials from various departments visited the home.

When Express spoke to a senior official who was part of the team, he did not directly answer whether the multi-tier vault for dead was built after obtaining permission from the government and the remains were cleared after getting permission of any government agency.

He merely said they found a few violations and action would be taken accordingly. “The licence of the home had expired, but they have applied and it is pending,” the official said.
He said the police are also investigating and a detailed report would be filed to the district Collector on the home.

The police on Wednesday arrested one Rajesh, who was said to be driving the van in which the body and two elderly were being taken to the home on Tuesday. But, the police also arrested Karunakaran, a local activist, who raised the issue over the body being carried in a van to the home and filed the formal police complaint on the issue.

His cousin Umasankar told Express, “There were concerns on the way the home functions for a very long time and Karunakaran had filed complaints even by meeting senior police officers. But, no action was taken.” The body that was transported in the van was sent to a government hospital in Chennai and further investigation is on.