In a shocking discovery, at least 40 minor girls, aged between 9 and 14, were found confined inside a toilet of an unregistered madrassa in Pahalwara village during an inspection by the district administration on Wednesday. Officials have since ordered the closure of the institution and directed the management to send the girls back to their homes.
Complaint leads to surprise inspection
The incident came to light after the district administration received complaints about suspicious activities at the Islamic institution, which was being run in a three-storey building without registration. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Payagpur, Ashwini Kumar Pandey, said that madrassa operators initially tried to prevent officials from inspecting the upper floors. However, when police intervened, the team reached the terrace where they found a locked toilet.
Upon opening the door, a female officer discovered around 40 frightened girls cramped inside. “They were visibly terrified and unable to say anything clearly,” Pandey said.
Madrassa lacked registration and documents
District Minority Welfare Officer Mohammad Khalid stated that the madrassa had been operating illegally for nearly three years. “The management could not produce any documents related to registration or legality of the institution. During the 2023 survey, 495 unregistered madrassas were identified in Bahraich, but this one appears to have escaped the team’s notice then,” he said.
Following the discovery, the authorities issued an immediate order to shut down the madrassa.
Management’s explanation questioned
When asked why the girls were confined inside the toilet despite there being eight available rooms in the madrassa, one teacher claimed that the children panicked during the commotion and locked themselves inside. Officials, however, noted that the explanation appeared unconvincing given the scale of the incident.
“The management has been instructed to ensure the safe return of the girls to their homes, and it appears all of them have now reached back,” Pandey added.
No FIR registered yet
Additional Superintendent of Police Ramanand Prasad Kushwaha said that no First Information Report (FIR) has been filed so far. “The parents, SDM, or the minority welfare officer have not approached us for lodging a case yet. If any complaint is received, appropriate legal action will be taken,” he said.
State may roll out new framework
The Uttar Pradesh government is expected to introduce a regulatory framework for unregistered madrassas to curb illegal operations and ensure child safety. The Bahraich administration has also launched a review of other suspected unregistered institutions in the district.
Conclusion
The disturbing discovery has raised serious questions about child safety and monitoring of illegal educational institutions in Uttar Pradesh. With pressure mounting on the administration, the state’s proposed regulatory reforms are expected to bring stricter checks to prevent such incidents in the future.