Charges of child trafficking against five Madrasa teachers dropped citing "misunderstanding"
Mumbai: The incident dates back to May 2023 when the five teachers were arrested while accompanying 59 children from Bihar to Maharashtra. The children were en route to Pune and Sangli to pursue studies in Islamic theology. However, suspicions were raised by Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials and an NGO, leading to their intervention at Bhusawal and Manmad stations.
The arrested were Sangli resident Mohammed Anjur Alam Mohammed Syed Ali (34); and Araria residents Saddam Hussain Siddiqui (23), Noman Alam Sidd-iqui (28), Ezaj Ziyabbul Siddiqui (40), and Mohammed Shahn-awaz Haroon (22). They were accused of human trafficking.
Initially, the teachers were accused of trafficking the children for child labor, as they couldn't provide sufficient documentation for their travel. However, subsequent investigations revealed no evidence of wrongdoing. The GRP officers conducted thorough verifications, including visiting Araria and inspecting the madrasa where the children were supposed to study. Eventually, they concluded that no trafficking had taken place and submitted closure reports to the court.
While the case has ended, the impact on the teachers and their families has been profound. Social and psychological suffering ensued due to the false accusations, with one teacher even having to reconsider a job opportunity in Saudi Arabia due to the tarnished reputation.
Advocate Niyaz Ahmed Lodhi, representing the teachers, stressed on the need for better police training to prevent such false cases in the future. He also suggested that the teachers seek compensation for the harassment they endured.
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Right to vote under threat, must be made fundamental right: Cong's Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday that the right to vote is under threat and the time has come when it should be made a fundamental right for citizens.
Speaking with reporters, Ramesh lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) has never been as compromised as it has been under him.
"The rot started under his predecessor. This man is a player and not a neutral observer," the Congress leader said, slamming Kumar.
Kumar is completely compromised and has become a player in elections, he alleged.
"Home Minister Amit Shah had talked about three Ds -- detect, delete and deport. So we want to know how many non-Indian citizens have been detected, how many have been deleted and how many have been deported," Ramesh said, adding that the right to vote is now under threat.
On opposition parties submitting a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to move a motion for the CEC's removal, the Congress leader said they will continue to make efforts for Kumar's removal as he is "compromised".
Ramesh also batted for the right to vote to be recognised as a fundamental right.
"I believe that the time has come that the right to vote should be made a fundamental right. It is a statutory right, it is not a fundamental right. Fundamental rights are justiciable," he said.
The former Union minister said this was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, but it was eventually decided that it should be made part of the Constitution.
B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram had warned that in the future, governments might try to disenfranchise voters, he added.
"Once and for all, include the right to vote as a fundamental right for Indian citizens," Ramesh asserted.
