Child protection authorities from Thane have rescued 45 boys and girls, aged between 3 and 18, who were allegedly underfed and kept in deplorable conditions at a Navi Mumbai church. Some of the kids apparently have told the authorities that they were beaten and forced to work at the shelter. Church officials will be booked under laws meant to protect children, said sources. 

A week ago, the Thane District Child Protection Unit was alerted by non-profit Yuva Childline that Bethel Gospel Pentecostal Ashram, which is also a Church, at Seawoods, Nerul, had housed children in squalid conditions. Acting on the tip, Suvarna Jadhav from the District Women and Children Development and advocate Pallavi Jadhav from the District Child Protection Unit raided the place.