Kolkata: Communal tensions flared in Kolkata late on Monday evening as thousands of students studying in various madrasas in the city demanded the release of 63 children who were intercepted at Sealdah railway station by Government Railway Police (GRP) after they failed to produce any valid documents.
The children, 62 boys and a girl, mostly from different districts in Bihar, were allegedly being taken to a madrasa in Pune, Maharashtra.
GRP officials alleged that the identity papers produced by the children were fake and they were not satisfied with the answers given by the adults accompanying them.
GRP has detained Moulana Faijaan Mahmoud, a resident of Araria in Bihar, and the students were sent to a child welfare home in the outskirts of the city.
“They were changing the versions of the story repeatedly which raised concerns as states like Bihar, Bengal and Maharashtra are well-known for child trafficking. There is no religious connotation to these arrests but certain sections are trying to make it into one and pressurise us to secure their release,” said a GRP official.
“If the adults accompanying them can submit documents proving that the children are really studying in the said madrasa then we will release them. Or else their parents must come personally and take custody of the children, which is as per the provisions of the law,” said Asokendu Sengupta, chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Protesters though allege that GRP has detained them under false allegations.
“These children are mostly from families who cannot afford two square meals a day. They had admitted their children in a madrasa so that they can learn and have proper meals. GRP and CWC has unlawfully detained the children,” said Moulana Sharafat Abrar, who was leading the agitation.
Several areas in the city known to be dominated by Muslims were under siege though city police officials said that that there was no incident of violence.
“There are people who try to communalise every event for personal gains. Monday’s situation was one such event. No incidents of violence were reported and the city is peaceful,” said a senior police official,
Sources indicate that various ministers from the state government have personally spoken to the community leaders to ensure that there is no further rise in communal tension and they should allow the law to take its course.
