Police recover boy ‘held in chains’ in Sindh madrassah

TANDO MUHAMMAD KHAN: Police have recovered a boy from a madrassah in Anwar Colony area of Tando Muhammad Khan where he had been kept confined in chains, officials said on Friday.

According to reports, Abdul Ghaffar Memon, 10, was kept by force at Madrassah Qasimiya in Anwar Colony.

Talking about the incident, Panhwar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nasim Ara Panhwar reported that the father claimed to have left the child at the madrassah “because he was naughty and kept running away”.

She said that the child had been kept there for a week.

A case is being registered against all the involved parties including the head of the seminary Maulana Sher Muhammad Rind, the child’s father Muhammad Rafiq Memon and uncle, who went to hand over the child to the madrassah. The police have already arrested the head of the seminary and Rafiq Memon.

The news surfaced after a section of media flagged reports that a child had been kept chained at a local seminary.

CM takes notice

Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident involving the brutal incarceration of 10-year old Abdul Ghaffar Memon. He gave directions to Sindh Inspector General of Police to recover the child and take actions against the persons involved.

The CM said, “I have given clear instructions that human rights must be safeguarded everywhere in Sindh. I would particularly not tolerate high-handedness against children and women.”

He said that children could not be educated by keeping them in chains, adding that such inhuman acts destroyed the personality and dignity of a child. He reissued instructions to all deputy commissioners to ensure implementation of human rights in their respective areas.