Lucknow: Authorities in Bahraich district discovered 40 minor girls, aged between seven and 14, locked inside a toilet of an unrecognised madrasa named Jamia Hadiya Khadijatul Kubra. The institution, located in Pahalpurwa village, has since been shut down.
The action followed a tip-off that the three-storey building was being run without official approval. Payagpur SDM Ashwini Pandey led the operation and confirmed that a detailed report was sent to the District Magistrate. The District Minority Officer (DMO) was also directed to investigate. Police recorded the students’ details and sent them home safely.
District Magistrate Akshay Tripathi said no illegal activity had been found so far but added that a report has been forwarded to the Principal Secretary (Minority Department) for further action.
The madrasa’s manager and building owner, Khalil Ahmed, failed to produce required documents. He only presented admission forms for the 40 girls and listed one teacher, his daughter, Taqseem Fatima. Officials said Ahmed resisted their entry during the search, and the girls were found when a locked toilet on the terrace was opened. Pandey noted the children appeared frightened. Ahmed claimed he locked them inside as they panicked during the raid.
DMO Mohammad Khalid confirmed the madrasa was not identified in the 2023 state survey, which had recorded 495 unrecognised madrasas in Bahraich. The administration is now verifying if further violations occurred at the institution.
