Multi-State probe into child trafficking;Muslim Orphanage under scanner.

published on June 1, 2014

Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal will join an investigation initiated by the railway police into the alleged trafficking of 589 children from the three States to orphanages in north Kerala. Kerala has said that the State Crime Branch will take over the investigation.

The children, reportedly from poor families, were detained by the railway police as they arrived at the Palakkad Junction railway station in two batches on May 24 and 25.

Eight persons were arrested under Section 370(5) of the Indian Penal Code on the charge of trafficking in children below the age of 12.

Those who brought the children claimed that they were inmates of the Mukkam Muslim Orphanage(http://www.mmomukkam.org/administration.html) in Kozhikode.The trust is administrated by Kerala ruling ally IUML(Indian Union Muslim League) leaders and now the activities of trust is under scanner.

Last day Kerala home minister Ramesh chennithala had ordered for high level probe into the incident.But now IUML has came forward openly to criticizing Ramesh with minority card that Home Minister will only add fuel to conspiracies and “planned efforts” to tarnish the image of orphanages run by the minority communities and land them in legal controversies.

A team of five senior labour officers has already arrived here from Jharkhand. They confirmed on Sunday that the children were victims of child trafficking. Bihar and West Bengal officials are expected in a few days.