Chandigarh, July 10: Eighteen children traveling from multiple states towards Punjab have been rescued from transit by a combined force of railway police, anti-trafficking officials, and non-governmental organizations. The rescue operations, carried out at the Ambala Cantonment Railway Station, successfully intercepted minors who had been picked up from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Officials confirmed that the children are currently undergoing counseling while administrative teams work diligently to trace and contact their families.
The rescue unfolded in two phases as investigators targeted specific long-distance train routes known to be utilized by labor contractors. Team officials affirmed that twelve children were rescued from the Jan Nayak Express on Wednesday night, and six other children were rescued from the Karmabhoomi Express on Thursday. After a Daily Diary Report was formalized by the authorities, the minors were transferred directly to the Open Shelter Home in Ambala Cantonment for immediate rehabilitation.
The children told rescuers they were heading to specific commercial hubs, including Ludhiana, for underpaid manual work. Activists stated that the children were being taken to various locations in Punjab for labor, including painting assignments for Rs 5,000 a month, garment manufacturing at a jacket unit, and agricultural work in fruit orchards. The preliminary inquiry verified that the children had been separated from their homes under the guise of securing better financial prospects.
The incident underscores the rising frequency of traffickers utilizing the country’s vast rail network to move minors across state lines. NGO leadership asserted that thousands of children across the country become victims of child trafficking and exploitation every year through these methods. Officials maintained that ensuring the safety and protection of children is a collective responsibility of the administration, social organisations, and the general public, calling for sustained vigilance at major transit hubs to deter similar trafficking attempts.
