Forty-six children, including seven labourers, were rescued by the police and members of the Ranga Reddy district Juvenile Justice Board with the assistance of Andhra Pradesh Balala Hakkula Sangham from various business establishments in Uppal and LB Nagar police station limits on Saturday.
According to the police, they rescued 21 girls and 25 boys in the age group of 6 to 14 years who were working in various shops and business establishments. The police also rescued street children. All the rescued children were shifted to rehabilitation centres for temporary shelter.
Uppal police sub-inspector Election Reddy said more than 10 children, who were begging at the Uppal Crossroad, were also rescued and handed over to the child protection organisations and Juvenile Justice Board members.
Balala Hakkula Sangham president Achyut Rao told Express that they took up rescue operation in association with members of the Ranga Reddy district Juvenile Justice Board and local police.
“We rescued children who were begging at road junctions in LB Nagar and Uppal police station limits. We suspect that a mafia brought the children from different parts in the state to the city and forced them into begging.
All the 46 children were handed over to Child Welfare Committee (CWC) officials and shifted to rehabilitation centres.
The Balala Hakkula Sangham president demanded the the labour and education departments launch a drive to rescue child workers and beggars in the city.