Bahraich, 25 Sept (HS): During

a check, investigators discovered 40 girls aged nine to 14 locked inside the

toilet of an illegal madrassa here, according to reports. According to Payagpur

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ashwini Kumar Pandey, the district

administration has received numerous complaints about the operation of an

unlawful madrassa inside a three-story building in Pahalwara village, Payagpur

tehsil. “When we arrived at the premises on Wednesday for an inspection, the

madrassa owners originally tried to prevent us from going upstairs. We approached the premises in the presence of

police and discovered the toilet on the terrace to be locked, according to SDM

Ashwini Kumar Pandey. When

female police opened the door, 40 girls aged nine to fourteen who were hiding

inside the toilet emerged one by one.

The girls were terrified and were unable to speak

clearly, he continued. The SDM stated that District Minority Welfare Officer

Mohammad Khalid has been tasked with verifying the institution's registration

and legitimacy. According to Khalid, neighbors said that the madrassa had been

operating without registration for about three years. Management and personnel

were unable to present any documents pertaining to registration or

validity.During the 2023 survey, 495

unregistered madrassas were found in Bahraich, and it appears that this one

escaped the survey team's attention, he said. So far, the state government has

not issued a clear stance regarding unlawful madrasas.

While some were sealed last year, their

management secured a stay from the High Court, Khalid explained, adding that

the government is due to release a new regulatory framework soon. During

interrogation, we asked why the girls were hiding inside the toilet when there

were eight rooms in the madrassa. A teacher, Takseem Fatima, responded that the

girls frightened in the ruckus and locked themselves inside. He stated that the

madrassa's records are being investigated, and instructions to close it have

been issued.The management was

instructed to safely return the females to their homes, and it appears that

they have all done so, according to Khalid.

Ramanand Prasad Kushwaha, Additional

Superintendent of Police (City), stated that no FIRs have been filed so

far. In addition, neither the parents,

the SDM, nor the minority welfare officer have approached us about filing a

lawsuit. If a complaint is made, the

right legal action will be taken, he stated.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi