40 Minor Girls Found Confined in Unauthorized Madrassa Toilet During Inspection in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich

Bahraich:

During an official inspection, authorities discovered forty minor girls confined inside a toilet of an unregistered madrassa in Bahraich. The girls, ranging from nine to fourteen years of age, were found during a compliance check at the unauthorized religious educational facility.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Payagpur Ashwini Kumar Pandey informed PTI that the district administration had received multiple complaints about an illegal madrassa operating within a three-storey structure in Pahalwara village under Payagpur tehsil.

"When we conducted our inspection on Wednesday, the madrassa operators initially attempted to prevent our access to the upper floors. We entered the premises with police support and found the toilet on the terrace was locked," he explained.

Female police personnel opened the door to discover 40 frightened young girls hiding inside the toilet. According to the SDM, the children appeared visibly scared and were unable to communicate clearly when questioned.

District Minority Welfare Officer Mohammad Khalid has been tasked with verifying the registration status and legality of the institution. Local residents reported that the madrassa had been functioning for approximately three years without proper registration.

"The management and staff failed to provide any documentation confirming registration or legal operation. A 2023 survey identified 495 unregistered madrassas in Bahraich, and it seems this particular facility escaped detection during that time," Khalid stated.

The Uttar Pradesh government has yet to establish a definitive policy regarding such unauthorized educational institutions. While some were sealed last year, their administrators obtained stays from the High Court. Khalid mentioned that a new regulatory framework is expected to be implemented soon.

"When questioned about why the girls were confined in the toilet despite the facility having eight rooms, teacher Takseem Fatima claimed the girls panicked during the commotion and locked themselves inside," he added.

Authorities are currently examining the madrassa's records and have ordered its closure. "The management has been instructed to ensure all students return safely to their homes, and it appears all have now been reunited with their families," Khalid confirmed.

Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Ramanand Prasad Kushwaha stated that no First Information Report (FIR) has been filed thus far. "Neither the parents, the SDM, nor the minority welfare officer have approached us to register a case. Appropriate legal action will be taken if any complaint is received," he said.