Twelve children were rescued from suspected traffickers who were allegedly taking them to Haryana to work at a rice mill, Railway Protection Force (RPF) Inspector Aniruddh Rai said on Saturday.
Rai said the authorities received information that the children were being taken on a train travelling from Bihar towards Haryana. Acting on the tip-off, a joint operation was conducted by the Crime Intelligence Bureau (CIB) and the RPF post, following which the children were rescued and handed over to Childline.
Speaking to ANI, Rai said, “Information was received that on a train travelling from Bihar towards Haryana, traffickers were taking 12 children along to work in a rice mill. Acting on this tip-off, a joint operation was conducted by the CIB and the RPF post. Twelve children were rescued and handed over to Childline.”
A case has been registered at the Government Railway Police (GRP) station against two suspected traffickers, Rai said.
He added that the full details would emerge during the investigation. Preliminary information suggested that the children had been lured under false pretences, with some allegedly being paid advance money before being taken for child labour.
The rescued children were handed over to Childline, while their families arrived to take them back. Some of the children have already been reunited with their families, Rai said.
In a separate operation, the RPF and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized 1.168 kg of suspected drugs worth Rs 2.33 crore from a passenger train at Guwahati railway station on Tuesday, an official said.
A senior RPF official in Guwahati said a joint operation was conducted by the Crime Prevention and Detection Squad of the RPF at Guwahati station and the NCB, Guwahati, on the DN Kamrup Express.
“During checking of Coach No. A-2, two persons travelling on berths/seats No. 17 and 18 were intercepted and subjected to checking. During the course of checking, four packets containing suspected heroin (brown sugar) were found concealed in their baggage,” the official said.
(With inputs from ANI)