Outcry grows after 163 Muslim students were detained by the Government Railway Police in Katni over labour suspicion
NEW DELHI — A controversy continues to grow over the detention of 163 Muslim students and eight teachers by the Government Railway Police (GRP) in Katni in Madhya Pradesh earlier this month, with families alleging discrimination and demanding accountability.
The children, aged between six and 15 and belonging to Bihar, were travelling to educational institutions, including schools and madrasas in Maharashtra and Karnataka, when they were stopped on 11 April. They were later kept in shelter homes in Jabalpur and Katni for nearly two weeks before being released on 25 April and sent back to their homes in the Seemanchal region.
The case has triggered protests among parents in Araria, where a press conference was held on Monday. Families demanded compensation for what they described as mental trauma faced by the children and called for a clear standard operating procedure for students travelling for education.
“All the children were going to study under the supervision of their teachers. Treating them like suspects was wrong,” said one parent at the press conference.
Many families have alleged that the action was influenced by religious bias. Mohammad Shaukat, a parent, said, “Our children were targeted because of their identity. Even after we reached Katni, their release was delayed without reason.”
Another relative, Bibi Anjuman, questioned the action, saying, “My grandchildren study in Bidar. If they are travelling with teachers, why should they be stopped like this?”
Legal representatives, including advocates Mohammad Rameez and Mohammad Nawaz, confirmed that they have challenged the FIR registered on 12 April against the eight teachers under provisions related to the trafficking of minors.
Religious and social organisation Imarat-e-Sharia also raised concerns. Its representative Qazi Atiqullah said, “Travelling for religious and educational learning has a long tradition and is a legal right. Such actions create fear among families.”
Parents further claimed that children kept in shelter homes in Jabalpur and Katni suffered distress. “They were scared and confused. This should not happen to students,” one guardian said.
On the other hand, officials have defended the action. An officer from the railway protection system said the intervention was based on a specific alert about possible child trafficking. “We had credible information that children could be taken for labour. We acted to ensure their safety,” the officer stated.
According to officials, many minors were found travelling without proper documents or tickets, raising suspicion. Station House Officer L P Kashyap said, “During questioning, the accompanying men told us the children were being taken to a madrasa in Latur for religious education and that such trips had happened earlier.”
Child protection officer Manish Tiwari also supported the action, saying, “We received prior information from the Child Welfare Committee about a large group of children moving in suspicious circumstances.”
Despite these explanations, questions remain over whether due process was followed and whether the detention was justified. Legal experts point out that while authorities must act on trafficking alerts, safeguards are needed to prevent unnecessary detention of minors travelling for education.
For now, families continue to seek answers, compensation, and clear rules to ensure that students—especially from minority communities—are not subjected to similar treatment in the future.
