Child Welfare Committee, Kolkata, has sent 63 children to State-run homes after they were intercepted by the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Sealdah station while boarding a train to Maharashtra on Sunday.
The children, hailing from different districts in Bihar, were allegedly being taken to a madrasa in Maharashtra.
On Monday, roads were blocked in central Kolkata in protest against the decision of the CWC.
There was blockade in Sealdah and Rajabazar areas of the city. Those who blocked the roads demanded that the children be released.
Meanwhile, officials associated with the CWC said that they were being pressurised to release the children.
“We will follow the provisions laid down by the law in this case. If documents of children being admitted to madrasa will be provided, the CWC will release them. The children will also be released if parents want that them to return home,” chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Asokendu Sengupta said.
Meanwhile, those leading the protests said that false allegations against those travelling with children have been brought by GRP and CWC.
“The parents of the children are poor and cannot afford their studies. They have willingly agreed that the children be admitted to madrsas. The GRP and CWC have done very wrong in this case,” Moulana Sharafat Abrar, one of those leading the agitation said.
Along with 63 children, the GRP had intercepted Moulana Faijaan Mahmud, a resident of Araria in Bihar. Of these, 62 are boys. According to protesters, the lone girl is a relative of the person accompanying the children.
The children hail from districts like Purnea, Katihar and Kishanganj in Bihar.
