Police rescue 325 children under Operation Smile - V

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said that so far 325 children including 11 girls were rescued in the city under Operation Smile - V. Of these 53 children have been admitted in rescue homes while 272 have been handed over to their parents. 

According to the police commissioner, seven of the rescued children were below 10 years, 38 were between 11-14 years while 280 children were between age group of 14-18 years. During the operation, 14 cases have been booked against various establishments for engaging child labour. Further a fine amount of Rs 6,75,365 was imposed on establishments for various violations. 

He said that the rescued children were found working in different types of establishments and factories like those engaged in making bags, bangles, biscuits, bakery, electrical items, mechanic shops, computer work, fabrications, welding shops, tiffin centres etc.

Besides rescuing children belonging to Hyderabad and Telangana, 100 children belonging to other States like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal were rescued during this operation. The Darpan app was used for checking the details of children with the database. 

Taking a humane approach, the city police on its own initiative admitted three of these children in schools. Two of these children had dropped out from school due to family reasons and were found wandering on the streets.  They have been admitted in different schools in Secunderabad and were provided uniform and books by Sub-Inspector Rajini of Trimulgherry Police Station.

Further, a 10-year old boy was working in electrical shop due to financial problem. He showed interest in joining school and ASI Rafiuddin of Golconda Police Station took initiative and got him admitted in a school at Tappachabutra.

Operation Smile - V was launched on January 1, for tracing missing children. This was a month-long programme to trace missing children and rescue child labour, children engaged in begging etc. In Hyderabad city 17 teams were constituted each headed by a Sub-Inspector.