Madhya Pradesh: Madarsa teacher Taufiq Khan beats minor boy mercilessly, case registered

Controversies around Madarsas in Madhya Pradesh have no end. In a recent case from the Mandsaur district, a video of a 10-year-old boy is going viral, after his parents raised their voice against the corporal punishment given to their child.

Notably, a video is in circulation since last evening, wherein a minor boy wearing a kurta-pajama can be seen in the clip. Inside the house-like structure, there are other children as well, in the wall some teachings from the Quran and instructions are written. (watch the viral video here)

The parents of 10-year-old Nazim (name changed) are recording this video where they are confronting a man against the corporal punishment given to their son. A woman wearing Hijab can be seen saying, “Now that we are here, the cleric ran away”.

Later on, the child shows marks all over his body.

The video is from the Biriyakhedi area of Mandsaur and the house-like structure is a Madarsa. Namely, Gausiya Gareeb Nawaz, Dar-ul-Uloom Madarsa. The Hafiz and teacher at the Madarsa, Taufiq Khan has been named culprit.

The parents took their child home and have also filed a complaint against Taufiq at the Industrial Area police station (AJK).

As per the reports, Nazim was admitted to this Madarsa almost twenty days ago. Being a new student, he was facing problems in memorising the lessons and teachings at the Madarsa. Angered by this, Taufiq used to beat the kids mercilessly as corporal punishment.

Taking cognizance of the matter the Superintendent of Police Mandsaur, Rajesh Khaka told the media that, “ A video of a minor boy with allegations of being a victim of corporal punishment is getting viral. In the primary investigation, it has come to light that the minor boy was beaten up by his teacher Taufiq in the Madarsa for not learning the lessons”.

A probe has been initiated and the accused man has been booked under IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 294 (obscenity) and section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.

The administration at the Madarsa revealed that Taufiq was newly appointed and with the complaint of the parents, they have terminated him.

Taufiq is a resident of the Badnagar area of Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh.

Madrasa director Rafiq Khan said, ‘I objected to the beating of the child. I asked him, why did you hit so much?’ On this, he started apologizing. Said that ‘I made a mistake’.

Rafiq told, ‘The family members of the child were also asked what they wanted. They said they don’t want anything, just get him out of the madrasa. They said just throw him out, don’t report it. I too got upset when I saw the child. His back was all red.’

Notably, following the viral video the police have registered a FIR in this case. The case has been transferred to the cyber team and further investigations are underway.

On May 31, a poster of Hindu girls wearing Hijab pasted outside a school in a small town of Madhya Pradesh sparked controversy. Soon, rounds of debates and investigations began. Organiser, found videos showing students were made to recite Islamic prayers. Soon, the Home Minister of the state and the Chief Minister took cognizance and finally, the registration of the school was cancelled immediately.

Here is a brief timeline of the case:

• Pictures of Hindu and Jain girls wearing hijabs showed up on the internet on May 31
• District Magistrate discarded the allegations saying nothing was revealed
• National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) took cognizance of the matter and issued a notice
• Taking cognizance of the video posted by Organiser, NCPCR added the Islamic prayer point to the notice Home Minister Dr Narottam Mishra issued probe orders
• The administrator of the school Haji Mohammad Idris, wrote a letter to CM, stating the scarf was never mandatory as a school uniform it was always optional
• On June 2, Members of the state SCPCR visited the school and found irregularities and proofs of Islamic conversion
• The same day a circular was issued stating the registration of the school had been suspended by the state education department

The registration of the school stands suspended which was no less than a Madarsa. Read a ground report on this case by Organiser here.