Authorities rescue 3 boys allegedly held in captivity by

Three boys allegedly denied schooling and kept captive at home by their parents, who wanted them to be "imparted Islamic education," were today rescued, officials said.

Revenue officials, district legal services authority personnel besides police held discussions with the parents for several hours before rescuing the boys, aged 12, 9 and 6 years, they said.

The order to rescue the children was issued by district collector K Mohammed Y Safirulla.

The parents agreed to allow the officials take their children to the District Child Welfare Committee. The parents also accompanied them, officials said.

The father refuted allegations that his children were under his captivity.

"They are not in captivity...they are given proper education based on international Islamic syllabus from Arab nations," the father told reporters.

The children also reportedly claimed that they were happy with the kind of education they were getting from their parents at their residence.

The District Legal Services Authority, Ernakulam, had started the efforts to rescue the children from yesterday after they received a complaint in this regard.

But it did not yield result due to the strong resistance from the parents, officials said.

DLSA secretary, A M Basheer, said the father, by denying mandatory primary education under Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 to his children and wrongfully confining them in custody, has committed offences under the Juvenile Justice Act and Indian Penal Code.

Basheer, a sub-judge, has directed police to probe the alleged mystery behind the parents' action.

A large number of people gathered outside the house atop a row of closed shops as authorities initiated the process to shift the children.

Neighbours and relatives informed officials that the family did not have any contact with them.