Imphal, July 15: Convenor of Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Pradipkumar today said that the 21 Meitei Pangal students who were allegedly going for studying Moulubi were not actually detained but were hold back for some verification purpose.
Talking to the media persons, Pradipkumar further said that the step was taken up after the CISF authority at the Imphal International airport registered a complaint on the child line. According to a ruling of the Supreme Court, no child under the age of 12 should be sent outside state for studies or any other purpose without the company of either of the parents or one of the elders of the family. If a child has to be sent for studies, the parents should at least have the necessary verification done by a body of the Child Welfare Committee in the district from where the child belongs.
Therefore, the step taken up by the Commission yesterday was according to the guidelines of the Supreme Court said Keisham Pradipkumar. He further added that the students will be allowed to leave for their studies only after the Commission has identified the institute where the students were being taken for studies. The step is being taken up as a measure not only to prevent child from trafficking but also to protect children from other unwanted incident, he added.
