Five children from Manipur reportedly tortured at Nasik School rescued

Imphal: Five children from Manipur aged between 9 to 15 have been rescued from a distressing situation at a school in Nashik, Maharashtra with prompt intervention by Social Welfare Department, Government of Manipur. The rescued children landed in Imphal on Friday. They have been handed over to their respective families.

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Briefing the media at the Social Welfare Department office at North AOC in Imphal, Director of Social Welfare Department, Government of Manipur Ngangom Uttam said the children were promised free education at Shri Swami Narayan English Medium School in Nashik and they left for the school in December last year. However, their parents raised alarm about severe punishment and mistreatment facing the children in violations of child protection laws. Subsequently, the Social Welfare department got in touch with authorities in Maharashtra and launched the rescue operation.

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Ngangom Uttam informed that the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) in Nashik in coordination with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Nashik launched an operation and successfully rescued the five children from the school premises on February 3, 2024. He said the rescued children have recounted the ordeal of mistreatment in the hands of the school authorities. Ng. Uttam said one of the children bore physical marks of an air gun injury. The DCPU in Nashik has initiated an investigation and its findings will be communicated to the CWC in Nashik for further action, he added.

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The Social Welfare Director informed that the Child Welfare Committee in Nashik handed over the rescued children to representatives of the Social Welfare Department, Manipur led by Deputy Director of the Department K. Saroja on February 8, 2024. He appealed to parents and guardians in the state to thoroughly verify the condition of schools which make offer of free education.

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