Patna: Railway Police have rescued nine minor children from a child trafficker at Patna Junction. The rescue took place in the S-3 coach of the Bhagalpur-Surat Express, which was parked at platform number three. Police were conducting a special checking campaign against child trafficking when they found a young man travelling with several children.
The accused has been identified as Tariq Anwar, a resident of Rampur in Sahebganj district of Jharkhand. During questioning, Tariq told police that he was taking the children to Surat in Gujarat. There, they were to be sent to work in a textile factory for saree embroidery and other labour work. He said he was being paid only Rs 300 per month for each child he trafficked.
Police said all the children are from poor families. Seven of them are from Sahebganj in Jharkhand, while two are from Katihar in Bihar. Tariq told police that the children’s parents were given money and lured with false promises of good jobs for their kids in Surat.
A case has been registered against Tariq at Patna Junction Railway Police Station. Police have seized his mobile phone and are investigating the case further. The rescued children will be handed over to the Child Welfare Committee, and efforts are being made to safely send them back to their families.
