Chandigarh: Despite continuous inspections and rescue operations, cases of children being transported by train for forced labour continue to surface. In two joint rescue operations conducted at Ambala Cantonment Railway Station on Wednesday and Thursday, authorities rescued 18 children who were allegedly being taken to Punjab for labour.
The operations were carried out by the District Youth Development Organisation, the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) and other agencies.
According to officials, 12 children were rescued from the Jan Nayak Express on Wednesday night, while another six children were rescued from the Karmabhoomi Express on Thursday.
Preliminary questioning revealed that the children belonged to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. They were allegedly being taken to different parts of Punjab to work as labourers.
Programme Coordinator Ajay Tiwari said the joint operation was launched after receiving credible information that children were being transported by train for labour in Punjab.
During initial interaction with officials, the children reportedly said they had been promised work at various locations in Punjab. Among them, three children were allegedly being taken to Ludhiana to work under a painting contractor, where they had been promised around ₹5,000 per month for painting and other labour work.
The rescued children have been taken into protective custody, and further investigation is underway to identify those involved in the alleged child trafficking and illegal labour network.
