BAREILLY: A day after 20 minor boys, most of whom belonging to poor Muslim families in Bihar, were rescued from trains in Aligarh and Firozabad when they were being taken to Delhi, the government railway police (GRP) at Moradabad railway station on Thursday rescued another 80, including children, who were allegedly being trafficked from Bihar onboard Karmabhoomi Express.
Officials at GRP Moradabad said that acting on a tip-off, a rescue operation was launched and the local police was alerted following which, inspections were conducted at the Moradabad railway station on Thursday morning.
Superintendent of police, GRP, Moradabad, Aparna Gupta said, “After receiving information that the traffickers could be taking minors from Bihar onboard Karmabhoomi Express, several police teams were deployed at the Moradabad railway station. As soon as the train arrived at the station, the teams found children up to the age of 18 years, in various coaches of the train. Around 80 people, including children, were rescued from the Punjab-bound train. It is suspected to be a case of human trafficking. A probe has been ordered and the child welfare committee has also been roped in.”
“Investigation is on and if the case is found to be of human trafficking, strict legal action will be initiated under relevant sections,” added the GRP SP.
Programme coordinator (city), Childline, Shradha Sharma said, “During initial interrogation, most of the children said that they were travelling with their relatives or family members. The process of checking their legal documents is on to ascertain their actual age. Those rescued are being provided counselling by the Childline team. So far, no case has been registered, but the allegations of human trafficking are being probed.”
On Wednesday, 20 minor boys from Bihar were rescued from trains in Aligarh and Firozabad in three raids when they were being taken to Delhi, allegedly to work in factories. The investigation found that fake Aadhaar cards were made to show that the boys were not underage.
