Circumcision row
SHILLONG: The magisterial report on the alleged forced circumcision of 11 boys from the city-based Meherbaan orphanage contradicts the police’s version as far as the issue of taking permission is concerned.
While the magisterial report states that the parents were not informed before carrying out the procedure, police report says that the whole process was conducted with the consent of the parents.
“Meherbaan did not consult the parents of the boys when they were taken to NEIGRIHMS for circumcision and the consent was signed by two persons, Kurshid Thabah and N Rehman, as guardians,” East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said here on Thursday.
According to the magisterial report which was submitted to the state government recently, out of the 11 boys, four were Muslim by birth while seven were Christian and all had embraced slam few years back.
10 out of the 11 boys hail from different districts of the state– two from East Jaintia Hills, one from East Khasi Hills and seven from Jirang, Ri Bhoi district– while one hails from Barpeta district of Assam.
Goyal, however, ruled out the forced conversion angle in the case stating that “the parents of the inmates had already embraced Islam few years ago and willingly sent their children to Maherbaan orphanage to ensure that the children get proper education. So, it’s not a case of forced conversion.”
The East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, however, felt that the orphanage should have sought the parents’ permission before proceeding with the circumcision of the children.
It may be mentioned that the Meherbaan orphanage in Laban is run by the Shillong Muslim Association.
Goyal also observed that the functioning of such institutions need to be thoroughly looked into and the district administration will take up the matter with Maherbaan to take necessary actions against those posing as guardians so as to give consent for the circumcision without the permission of the parents.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (City) Vivek Syiem, however, said that the parents of the boys were not willing to file an FIR on the matter and have communicated that they had given consent for conducting the ritual.
“We have conducted an inquiry and found out that the parents have already embraced Islam a few years back which is why they don’t want to file an FIR in this regard,” Syiem said.
When contacted, the secretary of the Shillong Muslim Union, Kurshid Thabah, who also happened to be one of the guardians of the 11 boys as per the registration report prior to the circumcision, said that the parents had given their consent verbally.