A joint team comprising the Chhattisgarh State Child Commission, the Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU), Durg, and Child Helpline rescued 16 children who were allegedly being transported by bus for forced labour. One employer was arrested, while police have launched an investigation into the suspected trafficking network.
The operation was initiated after the Association for Voluntary Action (AVA) alerted State Child Commission Chairperson Dr Varnika Sharma at around 7 pm on Wednesday, claiming that a group of children was being transported from Raipur for child labour. The information was immediately shared with the SJPU and Child Helpline, prompting a coordinated response.
Within 90 minutes, the joint team intercepted the bus at around 8:30 pm and rescued all 16 children. The employer accompanying them was taken into custody at the scene.
Officials said preliminary findings suggest the children were being taken for work. The rescued children are now being questioned to determine their destination, the nature of the work they were allegedly being taken for, and to identify others involved in the operation.
The children were being taken in this bus. We are continuously updating this..
Currently, all children have been kept in a safe children’s home. The concerned department and police are engaged in investigating the entire matter. Officials say that if evidence of a large network related to child trafficking or child labor is found in the investigation, strict action will be taken against other people involved in it as well.
