Child labourers rescued in Tumkur

Two boys suspected to be child labourers were rescued from a farm here on Saturday. The operation was conducted by the district Child Protection Committee, an independent body under the Women and Child Welfare Department.

The orphans Anand (7) and Beeresh (8) were working at Vijaya Estate at Cheelanahalli of Koratagere taluk. They had scars on their thighs and looked undernourished.

The accused, estate owners Satyavathi and her son Vijay, had enrolled them in a nearby government school. But when the committee examined school records, the boys were found to be attending classes only two weeks per month.

When asked, Vijay claimed the boys were their relatives and were being looked after like their children. The boys were later brought to Bala Mandira here. The committee has summoned the owners and is investigating.