Palamu, July 10: Police rescued 27 minors, most of them girls, from two vehicles in separate operations in Jharkhand’s Palamu district on Friday evening and launched an investigation to determine whether the case is linked to human trafficking or illegal transportation for labour.
The rescue operations were carried out in the Padwa and Nawabazar police station areas following a tip-off. All the rescued children are residents of Manika block in neighbouring Latehar district.
Police intercepted two vehicles during the operation, rescuing 14 minors in the Padwa police station area and 13 others in the Nawabazar police station area. Several suspects from Bihar were detained and are being questioned as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities have begun legal proceedings in the case and are informing the families of the rescued minors. The girls have been shifted to the Sakhi One Stop Centre, while the boys are being sent to a children’s home for care and protection.
Officer-in-Charge of Padwa Police Station Ankit Kumar said, “Fourteen minors have been rescued from a vehicle in the Padwa police station area.”
Nawabazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sanjay Kumar Yadav said, “Thirteen minors have been rescued from a vehicle in the Nawabazar police station area.”
The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) has also been informed and is coordinating with the district administration to ensure the welfare of the rescued children.
CWC member Ravi Shankar said preliminary findings suggest that the minors were being transported to the Sasaram area of Bihar for paddy transplantation work.
“We have received information about the rescue of the minors and further action is being taken. Preliminary police and administrative investigations indicate that all the minors were being taken to the Sasaram area of Bihar for paddy transplantation work,” he said.
Police said the exact circumstances under which the children were being transported are being verified, and investigators are examining whether the movement was part of an organised human trafficking network or an illegal labour transportation racket. Further action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation.
