More than a fortnight after the Government Railway Police (GRP) in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni detained 155 students and eight teachers on suspicion of “child labour”, several parents on Monday convened a press conference in Bihar’s Araria, demanding compensation and the establishment of standard operating procedures to deal with children travelling for educational purposes.From Bihar, the children, aged between six and 15 years, were being taken to schools and madrasas in Maharashtra and Karnataka. After they were intercepted on April 11, they spent two weeks at shelter homes in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur and Katni. On April 25, they were brought back to their homes in the Seemanchal region of Bihar.Parents of the children, all of whom are Muslim, accused the GRP of being “communal” in their actions. However, the Katni GRP said action was taken due to suspicion that the children were “being taken to Latur (in Maharashtra) to work as child labour”. An FIR was filed in this regard on April 12. The eight men travelling with them were booked under Section 143(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with trafficking of minors.Parents alleged that their children felt traumatised while being kept at shelter homes in Jabalpur and Katni. They demanded an impartial investigation to hold those involved accountable, compensation for the children and teachers, and the issuance of a clear SOP to prevent harassment of travelling students.Bibi Anjuman, a resident of Kundilpur, said, “My three grandchildren have been studying in Bidar in Karnataka since government and private schools in Bihar don’t match up to the standards available there. How can anyone stop them from travelling under the guidance of their teachers?”Another parent, Mohammed Shaukat, alleged that the children were “specifically targeted due to their religious identity”. He alleged that even after the parents arrived in Katni, the administration delayed the release of the children through a prolonged Social Investigation Report process.Legal representatives, advocates Mohammed Rameez and Mohammed Nawaz, said they had challenged the FIR filed at GRP Katni station.Story continues below this adQazi Atiqullah of Imarat-e-Shariah, a socio-educational organisation, said the “long-standing tradition of travelling for religious studies is a legal right”.However, Railways Protection Force inspector Virendra Singh from Katni said the action was taken after they received a specific alert about “possible trafficking of children”.“The action followed a specific alert. We received information about the possible trafficking of children. When the train arrived, teams checked the coaches and found a large number of minors travelling without proper tickets or documents,” he said.Manish Tiwari, a Child Protection Officer, also said the intervention was based on credible input. “The Child Welfare Committee alerted us about a large group of children being transported under suspicious circumstances. Action was taken immediately,” he said.Story continues below this adKatni GRP Station House Officer L P Kashyap said that during questioning, the eight teachers had told police that the children were being taken for religious education. “They said that the boys were being taken to a madrasa in Latur. They also said they had taken the children earlier, too, for the same purpose,” Kashyap said.Santosh Singh is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express since June 2008. Expertise He covers Bihar with main focus on politics, society and governance. Investigative and explanatory stories are also his forte. Singh has 25 years of experience in print journalism covering Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. ... Read MoreAnand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Bihar