With the help of Kailash Satyarthi’s Bachpan Bachao Aandolan, nine Muslim youth who were trafficking 33 children from Bihar to Delhi and Punjab, were caught by the railway police. Among the accused are Mohammad Hashim, Shahid Alam, Noumaan, Abdus Salam, Mushabir, Shah Alam, Shamsul Haq, and Javed. Delhi state coordinator of Satyarthi’s Bachpan Bachao Aandolan, Surya Pratap Mishra, informed the chairman of the state children’s rights commission who told the SSP to act as soon as possible.
The Railway police caught the accused red-handed at Prayagraj Junction. The children were being trafficked to Delhi in Northeast express and surprisingly they referred to traffickers as Mama (uncle). The children were told that they are being taken to Delhi for education at a Madarasa in Tughlaqabad.
In the last few years, eastern states like Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal have emerged as the biggest hubs of child trafficking. Previously, the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Teresa, was in news for the shocking revelation of running a child trade racket in Jharkhand. According to reports, 450 women were pregnant at the Ranchi centre of the Missionaries of Charity between 2015 and 2018 but the childbirth records of only 180 babies were found and 280 kids went missing.
Later, one nun and another staff from the Jharkhand branch of Missionaries of Charity were arrested in the case. Anima Indwar, in her confession statement, admitted to selling four newborn babies. She also revealed that Nun Konsolia was involved with her in this crime. Anima in her confession statement also revealed the names of the parents whose newborns were sold by her. Jhunu Kumari’s son was sold for Rs 50,000 to a family in Morabadi. Hemlata Murmu’s son was sold for Rs 50,000 to a family in Kantatoli. In her confession letter, she also mentioned that she took Karishma Toppo’s child from Sister Konsalia and sold it for Rs 1,20,000 out of which she kept Rs 20,000 and gave Rs 1,00,000 to Sister Konseelia.
Most of the traffickers are from minority communities and the politicians in these states, instead of taking action against this organised child trafficking, try to defend them. When the Missionaries of Charity case came into light, Mamata Banerjee tweeted, “Mother Teresa herself set up Missionaries of Charity. And now they are also not being spared. Malicious attempts to malign their name. The Sisters are being targeted. #BJP want to spare no one. Highly condemnable. Let MOC continue to do their work for the poorest of the poor.”
Mother Teresa herself set up Missionaries of Charity. And now they are also not being spared. Malicious attempts to malign their name. The Sisters are being targeted. #BJP want to spare no one. Highly condemnable. Let MOC continue to do their work for the poorest of the poor
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 12, 2018
Until leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Nitish Kumar do not take strong action against traffickers of the minority community, the problem will persist. And these leaders are more concerned about the votes of the minority community than these children. However, the steps taken by Kailash Satyarthi’s Bachpan Bachao Aandolan is worthy of applause.
