Girls Aged 9–14 Rescued From Locked Toilet at Bahraich Madrassa

In a disturbing revelation, authorities in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district uncovered 40 minor girls, aged between nine and 14, confined inside a locked toilet at an unregistered madrassa during a routine inspection. The shocking incident, which came to light on Wednesday, has raised serious concerns about the safety and oversight of such institutions, prompting swift action from local officials to shut down the facility and reunite the girls with their families.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Payagpur, Ashwini Kumar Pandey, revealed that the district administration had received multiple complaints about the illegal operations of the madrassa housed in a three-storey building in Pahalwara village, under Payagpur tehsil. "When our team arrived for inspection, the operators attempted to block access to the upper floors," Pandey told PTI. Accompanied by police personnel, the officials forced entry and discovered the locked toilet door on the terrace. Upon unlocking it with the help of female constables, the terrified girls emerged one by one, visibly shaken and unable to provide coherent statements due to fear.

The madrassa, which had been operating covertly for approximately three years without any formal registration, evaded detection during a 2023 district-wide survey that identified 495 such unregistered institutions in Bahraich alone. District Minority Welfare Officer Mohammad Khalid, tasked with verifying the facility's legality, confirmed that the management failed to produce any documentation. "The girls were hiding in the toilet despite the availability of eight rooms in the building," Khalid noted. When questioned, a teacher named Takseem Fatima claimed the minors had panicked amid the commotion and locked themselves inside—a explanation that has only deepened suspicions about the institution's practices.

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In response to the findings, Khalid has ordered the immediate closure of the madrassa and directed the management to ensure the safe return of all girls to their homes. Preliminary reports indicate that the minors have been reunited with their families, though counseling and medical check-ups are being arranged to address any trauma they may have endured. The incident underscores the vulnerabilities faced by children in unregulated educational setups, where basic safety protocols appear to have been blatantly ignored.

Uttar Pradesh's government has been grappling with the proliferation of unregistered madrassas, but a comprehensive policy remains elusive. Last year, several such institutions were sealed, only for their operators to secure stays from the Allahabad High Court. Khalid expressed hope for a new regulatory framework soon, which could include mandatory registrations, regular inspections, and stricter penalties for violations. "This case highlights the urgent need for better monitoring to protect our children's well-being," he emphasized.

Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Ramanand Prasad Kushwaha stated that no First Information Report (FIR) has been filed yet, as neither the parents, SDM, nor the minority welfare officer has approached the police station. "We are ready to initiate legal proceedings if any formal complaint is received," Kushwaha assured. Community leaders in Pahalwara village have voiced outrage, demanding thorough investigations into potential exploitation or abuse at the madrassa. Local residents, who had long suspected irregularities, credited the administration's responsiveness to their persistent complaints.

This harrowing discovery serves as a stark reminder of the gaps in India's informal education sector, particularly for marginalized communities. As Bahraich authorities probe deeper into the madrassa's operations—including its funding sources and staff backgrounds—the focus now shifts to preventing such lapses in the future. With the girls safely back home, the community awaits justice and systemic reforms to ensure no child faces similar horrors again.

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