22 suspected child labourers rescued from train at Ambala

Ambala, July 29

A joint team of the anti-human trafficking unit of the state crime branch, the Child Welfare Committee, the GRP, the RPF, the Child Help Desk and the Bachpan Bachao Andolan today rescued 22 children from an Amritsar-bound train. They were suspected to be brought from different areas of Bihar to be engaged as child labourers.

Rakesh Chopra, coordinator, Child Help Desk, Ambala railway station, said, “There was a tip-off that some children are being trafficked in the New Jalpaiguri-Amritsar Karambhoomi Superfast Express. Seven teams were formed and all coaches of the train were checked. During the exercise, 27 children were found. Five of them were later handed over to their respective family members. A DDR has been registered in this context by the GRP. The remaining children have been shifted to a shelter home in Ambala Cantonment.”

ASI Rajesh Kumar of the anti-human trafficking unit, Panchkula, said, “It is suspected that the children were brought from Bihar to engage them as child labour in Ludhiana.”

“Initially, there were 27 children and the majority of the people travelling with them claimed to be their maternal uncles, paternal uncles or neighbours. Five children were allowed to go as they were travelling with their elder brothers. Some children claimed that they were going to stay with their parents in Amritsar while some said they were going for study purposes. The children are in the age group of 11-17 years,” he said.

“Statements of people travelling with them are being recorded. Their parents are being called. Counselling will be done by the child welfare committee,” the cop said. —TNS