Daijiworld Media Network - Gwalior

Gwalior, Oct 23: Twenty-two children were rescued from a madrasa in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior on Friday after its management failed to produce documents related to its recognition during an inspection by the Madhya Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, its chairperson Nivedita Sharma said.

The children, comprising 15 boys and seven girls aged between four and 16 years, were shifted to child care homes according to their age under the supervision of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).

Confirming the action, Sharma told IANS that the commission inspected Darul Quran madrasa near the Attorney General Office following a complaint that children were being kept at the institution without the required recognition.

“During the inspection, we found that the madrasa management did not have the required recognition. Three girls were also found inside a locked room, about which the management had not informed the officials,” she said.

The inspection was carried out by a team comprising officials from the Women and Child Development Department and the CWC.

Officials found that regular classes were not being conducted at the madrasa and that no staff had been appointed to look after the children. They also observed that arrangements for the children’s safety and supervision were inadequate.

The operation continued from the afternoon until the evening, but the management failed to produce the required documents. It sought additional time to submit the papers and requested that the children be allowed to remain at the premises.

Some parents arrived at the madrasa during the operation and expressed surprise at the removal of their children.

The action also comes in the wake of a missing-child complaint involving the institution. A 13-year-old boy from the Mewati locality of Sagartal, who was staying at the madrasa for his studies, went missing on the morning of October 15 after being present there the previous night. A police complaint was subsequently lodged, and the boy was later found.

Sharma said the commission had received information that children were staying at the madrasa without the required recognition.

Following the inspection, the children were shifted to care homes, and an investigation was underway under the relevant provisions of the law.

The commission’s action focused on ensuring the children’s safety, proper supervision and educational arrangements. Further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.