A 14-year-old girl was ruthlessly beaten up last year at a Lonavla ashram by a lady rector, referred to as ‘mother’ by the inhabitants, for stealing some sweets. As a result of this, the teenager developed a mild compression in her L4 vertebra.u00a0

Though the ashram management suppressed the entire episode, Child Welfare Committee (CWC) members unearthed the truth during a surprise visit to the Aantarbharati Balagram Anathashram in January this year. However, no complaint has been registered against Anita Shetye, who abused the girl, or the institution authorities so far.