Police team rescues 58 children in 5 months

Of the total 71 missing cases registered in Tirupur city, the special team of police constituted on July 1 and comprising an Inspector, two sub-inspectors and 10 cops, has so far found 58 children. 

“Ten children were rescued in the last two weeks alone till December 24. Most of the children have gone missing several years ago and remained untraceable so far as they did not maintain any contact with their parents. Some of these children have walked out of their houses on some petty issues like the parents scolding them for using mobile for a long time, being poor in studies besides elopements,” said Batharunnisa Begam, Inspector of Anti Child Trafficking Unit. 

The traced children, all aged between 13 to 18 years were found either working in shops or doing odd jobs for their livelihood. In the previous years, the number of children rescued was just in single digits. Apart from the missing children, the police have also rescued 41 child labourers. 

“Most of them were forced into begging and some employed in commercial establishments. In some instances, the parents have knowingly allowed their children, who were staying at home to beg to fulfill the family’s financial requirements,” the official added. 

Of the 41 rescued child labourers, only one orphaned child was sheltered in a home while all others were handed over to their parents by advising not to let them back to work or begging.