**Bahraich: 40 Girls Found Confined Inside Toilet of Unregistered Madrassa**
During an inspection in Bahraich, officials discovered 40 girls, aged between nine and 14 years, confined inside a toilet of an unregistered madrassa. The incident took place in Pahalwara village under Payagpur tehsil.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Payagpur, Ashwini Kumar Pandey, informed that the district administration had received repeated complaints regarding the functioning of an illegal madrassa operating inside a three-storey building.
“On Wednesday, when we went to the building for an inspection, the madrassa operators initially tried to prevent us from going upstairs. In the presence of police, we entered the premises and found the toilet on the terrace locked,” he said.
When female police personnel opened the door, 40 frightened girls emerged one by one. The children appeared scared and were unable to communicate clearly.
The SDM stated that District Minority Welfare Officer Mohammad Khalid has been tasked with verifying the registration and legality of the institution.
According to Khalid, locals reported that the madrassa has been running for around three years without registration. “The management and staff could not produce any documents regarding registration or legality. During the 2023 survey, 495 unregistered madrassas were identified in Bahraich, and it appears this one had escaped the survey team’s notice,” he added.
The state government has yet to issue a clear policy concerning such illegal madrassas. While some were sealed last year, their managers obtained stays from the High Court. Khalid mentioned that a new regulatory framework is expected from the government soon.
When questioned about why the girls were hiding in the toilet despite the madrassa having eight rooms, a teacher named Takseem Fatima explained that the girls panicked during the commotion and locked themselves inside.
Madrassa records are currently under examination, and orders have been issued to shut down the institution. “The management has been instructed to send the girls safely back to their homes, and it appears all have returned,” Khalid confirmed.
Additional Superintendent of Police (City), Ramanand Prasad Kushwaha, stated that no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered yet. “Neither the parents, SDM, nor the minority welfare officer have approached us for lodging a case. If any complaint is received, appropriate legal action will be taken,” he said.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/education/up-unregistered-madrassa-in-bahraich-under-scrutiny-after-40-girls-found-locked-in-toilet