Two madarsa students accuse teachers of chaining them

REFUTING ALLEGATIONS, THE SEMINARY CLAIMED ONE OF THE TWO STUDENTS HAD ESCAPED FOR THE 13TH TIME ON SUNDAY.

KANPUR: Two students of a seminary in Unnao alleged on Monday that their teachers chained them and others to make them study harder.

The children, aged seven and eight years, claimed that the teachers put chains around their ankles and sealed its ends with a lock. “I wasn’t alone, other students met a similar treatment at the seminary,” said a student who resides in Tanda Meeta village.

The madarsa at Kunjgaon of Fatehpur Chaurasi has 115 students of whom 45 live in the hostel.

Refuting allegations, the seminary claimed one of the two students had escaped for the 13th time on Sunday.

Manager of the seminary Hafiz Mohammad Aftab said the entire staff searched for the boy and found him on the outskirts of the village. Aftab added he kept the boy in isolation and handed him over to his father.

As the controversy raged, the Unnao police talked to the students and questioned the teachers.

SHO, Fatehpur Chaurasi, Siyaram said the police spoke to the boys and asked their families to lodge a complaint against the seminary. “No one has filed any complaint so far. We will register a case and initiate action if someone approaches us,” he said.

“The students have denied they were chained by teachers,” he added.