Bhopal: 26 girls vanish from unauthorised girls hostel, probe on

Bhopal: In a deeply unsettling development, 26 girls have reportedly gone missing from a children's home in Bhopal, allegedly operating without the necessary permissions. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has expressed grave concern over the incident and called upon the state government to promptly address the matter.

“The case of the disappearance of 26 girls from a children’s home operating without permission in Parwalia police station area of Bhopal has come to my notice," Chouhan stated in a post on social media. "Considering the seriousness and sensitivity of the matter, I urge the government to take cognisance and take immediate action," he added further.

FIR filed against unregistered children's home

The Parwaliya Sadak Police Station in Bhopal has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the children's home under sections of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Anil Methew, the manager of the children's home, has been named as the accused in the FIR. Out of the 68 girls in the facility, 26 are reported missing.

The FIR underscores that the children's home operated without proper registration and failed to adhere to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Prompted by the severity of the situation, Priyank Kanoongo, Chief of the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), has addressed a letter to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary, urging swift action by the state government.

This disturbing incident highlights the critical need for robust oversight and regulation of childcare institutions to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable children. Authorities are now under pressure to investigate and take decisive action against those responsible for the unauthorised children's home.