The Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) has lodged a petition with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking an urgent inquiry into the alleged involvement of schoolchildren in a politically and religiously charged protest held in Khammam, Telangana, on 7 August 2025.
According to LRPF General Secretary A.S. Santhosh, the rally, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Committee with participation from Communist parties, Muslim organisations, and local leaders of the Congress and BRS, saw minors from nearly 25 educational institutions take part. The petition claims that around 100 buses were used to transport students to the venue, where they were made to enact plays depicting victims in Gaza and exposed to graphic props such as dolls wrapped to resemble dead or injured children.
Citing reports from VSK Telangana and The Siasat Daily, LRPF alleged that the rally carried slogans on the Gaza conflict, criticised the Indian government, and employed religious symbolism. The group argued that forcing children into such events caused emotional distress, violated constitutional protections under Article 39(f), and breached multiple child protection laws, including the Right to Education Act, 2009, and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.
The petition also referred to NHRC and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) precedents where children’s participation in protests was deemed exploitative. It warned that such activities risk “brainwashing” minors with politically and religiously charged narratives.
Wrote to NHRC over shocking use of minors in politically & religiously charged pro-Palestine rally in Khammam.
Kids were coerced, bussed from 25+ schools, made to act with 'dead child' props & religious dramatizations.
Gross violation of Child Rights, JJ Act, RTE & Constitution. pic.twitter.com/dY2kshLrXT— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) August 13, 2025
LRPF identified political and organisational figures allegedly involved in facilitating student participation, including leaders from CPI, CPI(ML), CPM, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, as well as local educational management representatives.
The forum requested that NHRC direct the Khammam District Collector to conduct a fact-finding inquiry, identify schools and organisers responsible, and recommend strict action. It also called for the Telangana School Education Department to consider suspending recognition of the implicated institutions, provide counselling for affected students, and initiate legal proceedings under the Juvenile Justice Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The petition noted that the rally took place despite the Bombay High Court’s July 25 observation advising Communist parties to focus on domestic issues rather than foreign conflicts.
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