The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West on Wednesday released on bail two mothers, who were allegedly arrested on ground of forcing their children into begging, with PR bond of Rs 10,000 citing lack of evidence.
The FIR was lodged against the two mothers on September 8 from the complaint of Childline Imphal West on the ground that two minor boys were forced into begging by their respective mothers at Khwairamband Keithel and bring home money.
The two boys were handed over to Childline Imphal West by Imphal police after being rescued from Thangmeiband Thau ground area on September 7.
The police recovered items and money from the boys and arrested their mothers on September 13 on charges of forcing children to beg. The two mothers were produced before the court with the prayer of judicial remand of 15 days.
The police’s allegations against the mothers are that they were involved in committing offense of forcing the minor children for the purpose of begging and as such committed an offence punishable under section 76 JJ Act.
During the hearing, an additional public prosecutor submitted that the two mothers had forced their minor child into begging. They never gave any pocket money to the minors, but at the time of being rescued Rs 218 were seized from one of the minors which is therefore suggestive that the minors were begging. It was further submitted that the offence alleged was serious.
Meanwhile, the legal aid counsel of the mothers submitted that the allegations were false and the mothers never forced their child into begging. They are survived by their minor child and that leniency may be afforded and be enlarged on bail, the counsel stated.
The court, after hearing the submission, stated that the mothers are indigent and also minor child are dependent on them and there is no person to take care of the minors, more so the mothers have no criminal history and therefore, in the absence of prima facie and no criminal antecedent, not forgetting the minors who are dependent on them, the mothers be released on bail.
While releasing them, the court put conditions that they should not commit similar offence, that they should not hamper or tamper investigation, that they should not leave the state without prior intimation to the IO and that they should appear before the court as and when directed.
