January 4, 2007, New Delhi: Hundreds of children including former missing children, social activists and concerned citizens assembled at Rajghat to pay tribute to the child victims of Nithari. Wearing black ribbons and holding placards they silently marched from Samta Sthal to Rajghat today. The protest was organized by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA).

The protestors alleged that the government of Uttar Pradesh was trying to shield the higher officials as well as the highly placed individuals who had helped the main culprit in the past. Their demands were-

1. CBI should be asked to enquire into the Nithari episode
   
   
2. Under the direction of the Supreme Court, a enquiry commission should be launched to look into the matter of missing children in the country and come out with a report on the involvement and abetment of police officials in the same within 2 months.
   
   
3. There are about 45,000 missing children every year as per the National Human Rights Commission's (NHRC) report on trafficking. 11000 of them are never traced. The Government should enunciate a white paper on this issue.
   
   
4. The investigation on the incident in house No D-5 in Nithari should be completed quickly; the house should be brought down and instead, a Samadhi of children be made in its place.
   
   
5. The senior police officials of Gautam Budhha Nagar, Noida should be dismissed immediately to ensure proper investigation.
   
   
6. International standards and laws should be implemented with respect to missing children.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Kailash Satyarthi, the chairperson of BBA said- "Nithari episode is a matter of national shame and is the biggest stigma on the face of our society and polity." He further said-"This cannot be washed away only by catching the small fish. The leadership in the government at the top should have the courage to own the moral responsibility and if they have any vestige of shame left in them, they should resign immediately."

Children marched silently for their peers and they carried placards saying "Shame on Government." Shri Satyarthi also called upon everybody in the nation to observe January 25th 2007, the eve of Republic Day as "Nithari Day" to condemn this most brutal episode and to pay tribute to the deceased children. "When the security of children is undermined by such incidents, can we still call ourselves a Republic?"-he questioned. BBA also appealed to the President seeking his immediate intervention in the matter.

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URGENT ACTION!!!
January 25th –NITHARI DAY

Dear Friend,

Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) and many of its partners especially the children, whom we are working with, are calling for an urgent action. We propose to observe the eve of India's Republic Day i.e. 25th January 2007 as NITHARI DAY. We ask you and all the concerned citizens to stand up and silence for 2 minutes at 11am on 25th January 2007 to pay tribute to the deceased victims of Nithari, to condemn the missing and brutal killing of innocent children and to pledge yourself to oppose any such crime in your own way.

Kindly add your name in this letter and forward it to your friends, relatives and as many concerned people as possible. You can also observe this 2 minutes silence collectively in public places, schools, offices, institutions etc.

Kailash Satyarthi