A case has come to light in which poor and tribal children were reportedly being taken out of Rajasthan on the promise of free education for religious conversion. The children were moved from Udaipur to Goa through Gujarat and were to be taken to Tamil Nadu, but they were rescued before the journey could be completed.
The rescued group included seven children, two girls and five boys aged between 7 and 12 years. They belong to different villages in Jhadol tehsil of Udaipur district. After receiving information from the Goa Child Welfare Committee, a team of Udaipur Police and the Child Welfare Committee reached Goa and brought all the children back to Udaipur on Saturday, 18th July.
Railway police foiled the plan
During the inquiry, officials found that the children were taken by bus to Ahmedabad on 15th July and then boarded a train to Goa. A large group of children caught the attention of people at a railway station in Goa, following which the Railway Police stepped in and rescued them. While speaking to officials, the children shared details about their villages, helping the Goa Child Welfare Committee inform the Udaipur authorities. The children also said they used to attend church in Jhadol.
The investigation has found that children from the Udaipur division had also been similarly sent to Tamil Nadu earlier. So far, authorities have identified 15 such children. Police, the Child Welfare Committee, the rescued children, their parents, and local villagers are now being questioned. The children will be handed over to their families only after the inquiry is completed.
Following the incident, Udaipur MP Dr Mannalal Rawat wrote to Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He sought an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
In his letter, the MP said the case points to the involvement of Christian missionaries and a larger network. Citing the seriousness of the matter and possible digital financial transactions, he also demanded the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine any interstate and international links.
Claims of similar incidents
Dr Rawat said that more than 15 similar cases had earlier been reported from Kanuwara, Bichhiwara and Kalinjara in the Udaipur division. According to him, after local people became more aware of such activities, the group changed its method and began attracting children with the promise of free education before sending them to other states.
Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) State Minister Sundar Kataria and his team visited the Child Welfare Committee office and asked officials to take strict action in the case.
