This Article is From Oct 25, 2010

Rescued kids go back to Ladakh; 5 NGO members arrested

Jammu: Twenty eight Ladakhi children who were rescued after they were allegedly kidnapped by a Jammu based NGO, Youth movement for peace, have now left for Ladakh to be handed back to their parents.

"Five people have been arrested and they had kidnapped the children in the garb of an NGO.

There are 28 children and when we investigated, we found all the children were missing from Ladakh after the flash floods," said SS Sambiyal, the DSP of North Jammu.

The police claim that the NGO didn't follow proper procedures nor was the local administration informed before the children were relocated. Some sources also say the NGO wanted to collect donations in the name of rehabilitating the children.

Also, there are allegations that some of the NGO members have a controversial past.

"The members have a controversial background. In 2009 an FIR had been lodged against them and the allegation was that they were converting people into Christianity," said PP Kunzang, the general secretary of Ladakh Buddhist Association.

But, the NGO denied all charges saying it's an attempt to discredit them.

It's a sad irony for the children who dreamt of a better future after losing all that they had.

 
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