The Government Railway Police (GRP) in Manmad and Bhusawal have closed two criminal cases against five madrasa teachers arrested in May 2023 and jailed for four weeks on charges of trafficking 59 children from Bihar to Maharashtra allegedly for child labour. The cases were closed in March this year after the GRP concluded that the FIRs were lodged due to a “misunderstanding”.
On May 30, 2023, 59 children from Bihar’s Araria district, aged 8 to 17, were traveling to Pune and Sangli to study Islamic theology in madrasas. Acting on information from a senior officer linked to the juvenile justice board in Delhi and the Railway Board, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) along with an NGO “rescued” the children at Bhusawal and Manmad stations.
The children were housed in shelter homes in Nashik and Bhusawal for 12 days, as officials suspected they were being trafficked for child labour. Parents demanded the children be returned, and the Nashik district administration later escorted them back to Bihar.
The five madrasa representatives accompanying the children were accused of human trafficking as they could not provide adequate documentation for their travel. They were arrested and charged under sections 370 (trafficking of persons) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
During the investigation, GRP officers visited Araria, verified the credentials of the accused and the children, and inspected the madrasa where the children were meant to be taken. They found no evidence of human trafficking and filed a ‘C-Summary’ closure report before the court.
The false accusations had a severe personal impact on the teachers. Mohammed Shahnawaz Haroon stated that the FIRs and arrests changed perceptions, causing social and psychological suffering.
“Though people knew the cases were false, the FIRs and arrests changed perceptions, causing us social and psychological suffering,” Haroon told The Indian Express from Sangli where he resides. “My family was so frightened and anxious after the incident that they asked me to cancel my decision to go to Saudi Arabia for a job,” he said.
Saddam Hussain Siddiqui recounted how his family was frightened and anxious after the incident.
Advocate Niyaz Ahmed Lodhi, representing the teachers, stated that they had moved the Bombay High Court seeking the quashing of the FIRs. Police informed the court that they found no material evidence and are closing the case.
A senior GRP officer defended their actions, stating that they registered FIRs based on complaints by RPF officials and NGOs. Once they were sure no offense had occurred, they dropped all charges.
