KOTTAYAM: Nine girls including a POCSO case victim have been missing from a shelter home in Manganam. The girls fled from the private shelter home run by Mahila Samakhya NGO. When the staff went to wake them up Monday morning at 5.30 am, found them missing. The police have started an investigation.

There are nearly 12 girls in the shelter home. Girls involving in POCSO cases and family issues are lodged here. This shelter home has the recognition of the child welfare society. The girls were staging a protest here for the past few days. The police have intensified search for them.