13 child labourers rescued

Representational Image (Photo: Getty Images)


As many as 13 minor boys from Bihar allegedly working as child labourers were rescued from the Sundar Nagari areas of northeast Delhi by police with the help of Bachpan Bachao Andolan.

Northeast Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) AK Singla told The Statesman that kids were found working as bonded labourers. Owners of the factory were identified as Mohammad Taken, Sarfaraj, Rashid, Tahir, Dilwar and Mohammad Irshad Alam. However, none of the unit’s owners has been arrested yet. A case under relevant sections of the IPC has been registered at the Nand Nagri police station.

Adding further, the DCP said, “Raids were conducted by Subodh Kumar, ACP, Nand Nagri along with all SHOs of Nand Nagri sub-division in the presence of volunteers of Bachpan Bachao Andolan and Juvenile Welfare Officer.”

Subhash Chandra, sub-divisional magistrate, told The Statesman, “Matter was brought up to the notice by Bachpan Bachao Andolan. The 13 boys were found engaged in ‘bindi’ and ‘motor’ manufacturing units. There was no documentation of the kids working there and from where they were brought to Delhi.”

Adding further Chandra stated that kids were in a miserable condition and as locals were unaware of them being indulged into bonded labour, there was some resistance from them but later when the situation was explained they cooperated with us.

According to police, prime facie it appears kids were brought here from Bihar.
While talking to The Statesman, Sampurna Behura, 45, volunteer of Bachapan Bachao Andolan, said, “We got a lot of help from the local police as they looked serious to cope with this menace. Along with the police, District Magistrate and Sub Divisional Magistrate helped a lot and we together conducted raids. After being medically examined, kids were sent to observation homes.”

She also informed that kids were not in a mental condition to share the details of their whereabouts but they will be asked if they remember anything later. Most of the kids were between the age group of 10 to 15, she added.