Statesman News Service
MALDA, March 16: In keeping with a directive of the state women’s commission, the social welfare department has decided to conduct an inquiry into alleged anomalies including suspected trafficking against a private residential madrassa for Islamic education for girls in Malda.
A four-member state women’s commission team led by Mrs Bharati Mutsuddi visited the private madrassa on Saturday and interacted with the police and civil administration officials following a sexual molestation charge brought against the institution’s chairman by a girl student on 2 March.
Fifty-four girls of the madrassa, which is located at Anandipur village in English Bazaar block, had met the Malda SP on 27 February and informed him about their plight. The victims had alleged that the chairman and his associates threatened to drive them out of the institution for protesting against the chairman Moulana Nur-ul-Islam.
During investigation, the state women’s commission team and government officials discovered that the institution, which was established four years ago, does not have a government registration certificate. The staff could not show any students’ register or accounts of financial transactions and source of funds collected to run the institution. The investigation further revealed that the institution has changed its name four times so far.
“This institution is running for the past four years but it could not show us how many girls came here and from where. The residential madrassa accommodates more than 300 girls. The institution would have to register according to the government guidelines. We will take action against the authorities under Child Act after the completion of the investigation,” said Mr PK Dey, district social welfare officer.
“We will investigate separately if the institution is involved in trafficking or not since it is a burning problem across the district,” the official added.
It may be noted that English Bazaar police are yet to arrest the chairman, which drew flak from the women’s commission members.
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