In a month-long rescue effort titled Operation Muskaan-XI, Telangana’s Cyberabad Police successfully rescued 1,374 children from exploitative and hazardous situations throughout the region in July. Spearheaded by the Women and Child Safety Wing, this operation was part of a nationwide initiative aimed at tracing missing minors and removing vulnerable children from child labour, begging, rag-picking, and other harmful environments.
To carry out the mission, 11 specialised teams were formed across Cyberabad, each composed of a Sub-Inspector, three Police Constables, one Woman Police Constable, and members from the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit. These teams conducted raids and inspections at various commercial establishments, industrial areas, and public locations known for child begging.
From July 1 to 31, the operation led to the rescue of 1,374 children — 1,328 boys and 46 girls. Of them, 460 children (440 boys and 20 girls) were found to be from states outside Telangana. Among the rescued, 1,367 children were involved in child labour, one boy was begging, one girl had run away from home, and five girls were located in orphan homes. Following the rescues, 1,321 children were reunited with their families, while 53 were placed in shelter homes for continued support and rehabilitation.
All rescued children were registered and tracked using the Darpan App, which is designed to monitor missing and found children across the country. In addition, the operation led to the registration of 316 cases under multiple legal provisions, including Section 146 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Sections 75 and 79 of the Juvenile Justice Act, Section 14 of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, and Sections 17 and 18 of the Bonded Labour Act.
Operation Muskaan-XI stands as a powerful reminder of the scale of child exploitation and the critical importance of continued vigilance and enforcement to safeguard children’s rights.
