HYDERABAD: Government railway police, labour department and child rights activists rescued as many as 94 persons from Howrah-Secunderabad Falaknuma Express which arrived here on Thursday morning. Apart from 23 adults from the group, rest were all children suspected to have brought to the city for employment. The group also included 16 students belonging to a madrassa in Chegunta in Medak. Two middlemen belonging to Odisha have also been nabbed.
“Almost 20 of them were below 14 years. This includes 16 students of a madrassa who had gone away to West Bengal for a vacation without informing the madrassa and 37 others were between the age group of 14 and 18. Children were sent to State Boys’ Home at Nimboliadda and some to State Home at Allwyn Colony,” said Anjaneyulu, inspector, government railway police, Secunderabad. All the adults were let off after verifying their details, he said. E Gangadhar, joint commissioner, labour department, said the boys had tagged along with the elders who are all natives of West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand.
Based on a tip off, the children were rescued from the train which arrived here at 9.30 a.m. “The madrassa students were questioned for details and they were counselled. A case has been registered against the main agent under Child Labour Act, Bonded Labour Act and Juvenile Justice Act,” he added.