Daijiworld Media Network – Udaipur
Udaipur, Jul 19: Seven tribal children from Rajasthan's Udaipur district, who were allegedly being taken to Tamil Nadu on the promise of free education for religious conversion, were rescued in Goa before the journey could be completed, officials said.
The rescued children, comprising two girls and five boys aged between seven and 12 years, belong to different villages in Jhadol tehsil of Udaipur district.
After receiving information from the Goa Child Welfare Committee, a joint team of the Udaipur Police and the Child Welfare Committee travelled to Goa and brought the children back to Udaipur on Saturday.
During the investigation, officials found that the children had been taken by bus to Ahmedabad on July 15 before boarding a train to Goa. A large group of children at a railway station in Goa aroused suspicion, prompting the Railway Police to intervene and rescue them.
During questioning, the children identified their native villages, enabling the Goa Child Welfare Committee to alert authorities in Udaipur. They also told officials that they used to attend church in Jhadol.
Investigators said they have found evidence suggesting that children from the Udaipur region had earlier been sent to Tamil Nadu in a similar manner. So far, authorities have identified 15 such children.
Police, Child Welfare Committee officials, the rescued children, their parents and local villagers are being questioned as part of the investigation. The children will be reunited with their families only after the inquiry is completed.
Following the incident, Udaipur MP Dr Mannalal Rawat wrote to Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
In his letter, the MP alleged that the case indicated the involvement of Christian missionaries and a larger network. Referring to the seriousness of the allegations and possible digital financial transactions, he also sought the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine possible interstate and international links.
Dr Rawat further claimed that more than 15 similar incidents had earlier been reported from Kanuwara, Bichhiwara and Kalinjara in the Udaipur region. According to him, after local residents became more aware of such activities, those involved allegedly changed their approach and began luring children with promises of free education before sending them to other states.
Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) state minister Sundar Kataria and members of the organisation visited the Child Welfare Committee office and urged officials to take stringent action in the matter.