Bahraich: In a disturbing revelation from Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, officials discovered 40 young girls confined inside a locked bathroom of an unregistered madrasa. The shocking scene unfolded during an inspection led by Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ashwini Kumar Pandey in Pahalwara village, Payagpur tehsil.
The inspection team, accompanied by police, entered the three-storey building after reports surfaced about the madrasa’s illegal operations. Initially, madrasa staff resisted officials’ attempts to access the upper floors. Once the team reached the terrace, they found a bathroom locked from outside. When the door was forced open by women police officers, 40 girls aged 9 to 14 emerged one after another in visible panic. Many were too frightened to even speak clearly, according to the SDM.
Local residents revealed that the madrasa had been functioning without registration for nearly three years. Despite the building having at least eight rooms, the children had been kept hidden inside the toilet. When questioned, madrasa teacher Taksim Fatima claimed that the children locked themselves inside out of fear during the commotion of the raid.
District Minority Welfare Officer Muhammad Khalid has been tasked with verifying the madrasa’s documents and legal status. After preliminary checks confirmed the absence of valid registration, the administration issued immediate orders to shut down the institution. The management has also been instructed to safely send all children back to their homes. Khalid confirmed that the children have since returned to their families.
Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Ramanand Prasad Kushwaha clarified that no FIR has yet been registered. However, he noted that further legal action will be initiated if a formal complaint is lodged by the SDM or the children’s parents.
The incident has triggered shock and anger among locals, who demand accountability for how dozens of minors were concealed in such conditions. Many have raised concerns about the safety, wellbeing, and education of the children, as well as the broader issue of unregulated institutions operating outside the law.
As investigations continue, the episode highlights serious lapses in monitoring and raises troubling questions about the vulnerability of children under unauthorized educational setups.