5 madrasa teachers imprisoned for human trafficking; Police admit mistake after 10 months

New Delhi- On May 30, 2023, acting on confidential information, police arrested 59 children along with five teachers from Araria, Bihar, who were on their way to Pune and Sangli in Maharashtra.

The teachers were accused of transporting these children without parental consent, leading to accusations of human trafficking. The children were sent to Childline and after spending a month in prison, the teachers were released on bail. However, an investigation revealed a different story. The children actually went to study in madrasahs. Police have now filed a closure report admitting their mistake.

The incident took place on May 30, 2023. The 59 children, aged between eight and 17, from Araria, Bihar, were traveling with their five teachers to study in madrasas in Pune and Sangli. They were on board the Danapur-Pune Express when Government Railway Police (GRP) at Manmad and Bhusawal railway stations in Maharashtra arrested them on suspicion of being victims of labor trafficking .

In Delhi, a senior official of the Juvenile Justice Board and the Railway Board, in collaboration with an NGO, “rescued” the children and arrested the teachers.

At the time of the arrest, RPF officials claimed that the five individuals could not produce documents relating to their travel, leading to an FIR under sections 370 (human trafficking) and 34 ( common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

The children were taken to foster homes in Nashik and Bhusawal for 12 days. Suspecting them of being victims of trafficking, officials acted on these doubts. When the children's angry parents demanded their return, they were sent back to Bihar by the Nashik district administration.

After investigation, it was found that the FIR against the teachers was the result of a misunderstanding. Manmad GRP inspector Sharad Jogdand said there was no case of child trafficking and a closure report had been submitted to the court.

Teacher Anzar Alam claims to have spent three months in prison, while his colleagues Saddam Hussain Siddiqui, Noman Alam Siddiqui, Ejaz Jiabul Siddiqui and Mohammad Shahnawaz Haroon spent 12 days in police custody and 16 days in Nashik jail.