IUML rubbishes child trafficking allegations

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Monday raised the pitch against what it called “propaganda” against orphanages, which are falsely accused of child trafficking in the wake of complaints.

IUML national secretary and MP from Ponnani E T Mohammed Basheer challenged statements from the Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) that children brought from Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal to orphanages in Malappuram and Kozhikode last week were victims of child trafficking.

“The statement by (KSHRC chief investigating officer) Sreejith is wrong… cases should not have been registered against the orphanages. There’s a move to malign the reputation of orphanages in the state,” Basheer told reporters in Kozhikode.

Allegations of child trafficking in transporting 580 children to orphanages in northern Kerala, including the Muslim orphanage in Mukkam in Kozhikode, have caused disquiet in the Congress-led United Democratic Front in the state.

The League has already reproved home minister Ramesh Chennithala for his statements against the orphanages.

A team of officials from Jharkhand has taken statements from the children in Palakkad – where the children were intercepted – and Malappuram. More officials are expected to be in Kerala this week in connection with the incident.

KSHRC Chairman Justice J B Koshy said in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday that the Commission would explore possibilities of a survey on maintenance of orphanages and fresh laws to deal with alleged trafficking and abuse in the orphanages.

He, however, told reporters that there was no evidence yet to confirm child trafficking in the Palakkad incident.

The BJP Kerala unit, meanwhile, has sought a comprehensive investigation into the allegations of child trafficking.