In a significant development, three madrassa teachers have been arrested in Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram, for abusing minor students. The accused, identified as Muhammad Razal Haq from Uttar Pradesh, Siddique from Kollam Kulatupuzha, and Mohammad Shamir from Tolikode in Thiruvananthapuram, were taken into custody by the Nedumangad police following a tipoff received by the Child Welfare Committee.
The accused, who had been operating the madrassa in the Nedumangad area for the past year, were remanded after appearing in court. The arrest was made under the supervision of DYSP N. Shibu and SHO O.A. Sunil, along with a team consisting of SIs Suresh Kumar, Shaji, ASI Ranjith, and officers C. Biju, Deepa, and Ajit Mohan.
The Child Welfare Committee had provided information leading to the arrests, stating that the accused were subjecting the children to unnatural torture. The nature of the abuse has not been specified in the available information.
The arrested individuals, Siddique (24), Muhammad Shamir (28), and Muhammad Razalal (30), are now facing legal proceedings after being produced in court. The court has ordered their remand in connection with the case.
District Police Chief Kiran Narayanan led the arrest operation based on the tip-off from the Child Welfare Committee. The authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the child abuse case at the Nedumangad madrassa, ensuring justice for the victims and appropriate legal actions against the accused.
In May 2023, a 17-year-old girl was found hanging inside a madrassa in Balaramapuram in Kerala. The young girl, who resided on the institution’s campus to continue her education, had previously voiced concerns about harassment during a visit to her family over the Bakrid festival. The family, suspecting foul play, has accused the authorities of the institution of mistreating their daughter.
Despite substantial evidence of institutionalised abuse of young boys and girls within Madrassas in Kerala, the media nor the liberal society, Child Rights activists, and even right-wing politicians in the state remain conspicuously silent and hesitant to address this pressing issue.
