170 Muslim children from Bihar taken off train in Katni over suspicion of trafficking

Police and civic authorities made around 170 Muslim children disembark from a train at Katni station in Madhya Pradesh late Saturday night following a tip-off about possible human trafficking.

The children, mostly minors from Bihar, were travelling on the Patna-Pune Express train. They were being taken to Maharashtra.

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According to RPF Inspector Virendra Singh, police had received a tip-off that 167 Muslim children were travelling in the train under suspicious circumstances.

He said a joint team of the RPF, GRP, and the women and child development department inspected the train at Katni station and safely brought down all the children, along with some persons who claimed they were taking them to Maharashtra.

Police said that one such person, named Saddam Hussain, claimed that he had permission from the children’s parents and was taking them to a madrasa in Latur, Maharashtra, for education.

Saddam, however, could not produce the required documents to support his claim, the police said.

The police and administrative officials have kept all the children in safe accommodation in Katni. Further investigations is underway.