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In India, a disturbing trend has emerged where fee-paying "thief schools" train young children in criminal activities, preparing them for a life of crime. According to Indian media outlet NDTV, three villages in Madhya Pradesh - Kadia, Gulkhedi, and Hulkhedi - are notorious for operating these so-called schools. Here, children, often from impoverished and uneducated families, are taught by seasoned criminals to steal, primarily targeting wealthy weddings.
The students, typically aged between 12 and 13, are trained in various illegal activities, including pickpocketing, bag-snatching, and evading the police. The curriculum also includes gambling and selling alcohol, with a heavy emphasis on blending in with affluent crowds to access high-society events. After about a year of training, these children "graduate" and begin stealing jewelry at exclusive weddings.
Parents in these villages pay substantial fees, between 200,000 to 300,000 rupees (US$2,400 to US$3,600), for their children's "education." The financial motivation is strong - successful graduates can earn five to six times the amount of their tuition fees, and their parents often receive an annual payment from gang leaders as a form of "commission."
The criminal activities orchestrated by these schools have drawn significant attention. Over 300 children from these schools have reportedly been involved in wedding thefts across India. In one incident on August 8, a thief stole jewelry worth 15 million rupees (US$180,000) from a wedding in Jaipur. In another case, a 24-year-old thief stole a bag of jewelry at a wedding in Gurgaon.
Law enforcement faces challenges in tackling these crimes, as many of the offenders are minors. Indian law tends to focus on rehabilitation and education for juvenile offenders rather than harsh punishments. Additionally, local villagers often protect the young criminals, further complicating police efforts.
The existence of these thief schools has sparked outrage on social media, with many criticizing the parents for exploiting their children. One netizen lamented, "These children could have used the tuition fees for a formal education."
Source: SCMP
