Parents of 165 rescued children object to police action:Say they were travelling to madrasa with consent

The case involving the rescue of 165 Muslim children from the Patna–Pune Express at Katni railway station has taken a new turn. Parents of the children have released videos claiming that the minors were not being taken for labour work, but were travelling to a madrasa for education with full family consent. Meanwhile, counselling of the rescued children is being conducted at child care homes in Katni and Jabalpur. Police are also interrogating the accused who are in custody. Officials said that verification of the children is being carried out through the local administration before further action is taken. On Saturday (11 April) night, 165 Muslim children were rescued from the Patna–Pune Express at Katni railway station. The children were allegedly being taken from Bihar to Maharashtra under suspicious circumstances. A case of child trafficking has been registered against eight people, including Saddam Hussain and Amanullah. Out of the 165 rescued children, 84 were sent to a child care home in Jabalpur by two buses the same night, while 81 children were placed in a child home in Katni. The case has been registered against Saddam Hussain, Amanullah, Mohammad Zahir, Aamir Khan, Hafiz Abbu, Mohammad Islam, Naushad and Rashid. See 3 pictures Family members posted videos on social media Mohammad Shaukat from Araria said in a social media video that his nephew was sent to Maharashtra’s Ashrafi madrasa with Qazi Saddam for education, and he alleged that the Government Railway Police (GRP) action was wrong. He appealed for the child’s release. In another video, Mohammad Shahid also said that his child was travelling to a madrasa for studies with their consent and should be released. The mother of an 11-year-old child also posted a similar appeal on social media. Social worker says – Fathers of three children were also present Local social workers in Katni have also criticised the GRP action. Tarik Hussain claimed that three of the children were accompanied by their fathers, who were also detained by police. He questioned how a father could be accused of trafficking his own child. Maruf Ahmed termed the incident a “planned conspiracy” and said that valid documents of the madrasa were shown to police but ignored. He also said legal action is being planned. Getting children verified from local administration Manish Tiwari, official of the Asra Child Home in Katni, said that as per procedure, the Araria district administration in Bihar has been contacted for verification. The children will be handed over to parents or concerned institutions only after the report is received and instructions from the Child Welfare Committee.