Railway authorities and a child welfare organisation rescued eight minors and apprehended three suspected traffickers at Chhapra Junction railway station in Bihar’s Saran district after foiling an attempt to take the children to Punjab for labour, officials said.
The action was carried out under Operation Aahat after a tip-off. A joint team comprising the Crime Intelligence Branch, the Railway Protection Force, and Association for Voluntary Action stopped the Karmabhoomi Express, which runs between New Jalpaiguri and Amritsar, when it reached Chhapra.
During the inspection, officials found eight minors travelling with three adult men who were taking them toward Jalandhar in Punjab for work. The children were removed from the train and questioned, after which the men reportedly admitted they had persuaded the minors to travel for labour by offering job promises.
CIB Inspector Sanjay Mishra said the January 28 operation followed specific intelligence received through Bachpan Bachao Andolan. He stated that the children, aged 13 to 17, were from villages in Purnia and Katihar districts and were being taken out of state for child labour.
The three arrested were identified as Ranjit Kumar Moni from Katihar district, Mohammad Kamal from Madhepura, and Suraj Kumar from Purnia district.
After necessary procedures, the children were placed in the care of the Child Protection Unit, which will arrange their safe return home. Authorities have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Juvenile Justice Act, and the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, and further investigation is ongoing.
