In a major crackdown on child trafficking, authorities rescued at least 19 children, believed to be from West Bengal, who were confined and forced to work in imitation jewellery production in Gujarat’s Rajkot.
The rescue was conducted by the Rajkot City Police, the Special Operations Group (SOG), and the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit from a house near Bedichowk. The children were reportedly found in distressing conditions and were immediately given medical attention upon rescue.
Initial examinations revealed injury marks on their hands and backs, indicating possible physical abuse. Investigators are now looking into whether the children were subjected to coercion and violence.
The preliminary probe indicates that a contractor had brought the children to Rajkot over the past two years to work illegally, violating child protection laws. The residence, owned by a man named Babu Bala, is under scrutiny, with authorities investigating the legality of the rental agreement and whether it facilitated trafficking.
This incident is believed to be part of a larger child trafficking and bonded labour network operating in Gujarat, with Rajkot identified as a troubling hotspot. This is not the first such case in the city; in April, a raid rescued 31 child labourers trafficked from states like Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Gujarat, working in hazardous saree factories.
Similarly, in July 2024, Ahmedabad Police rescued 29 children forced into begging by trafficking syndicates linked to Rajasthan, targeting 18 locations involved in child exploitation.
Authorities continue to work to dismantle these troubling networks and protect vulnerable children from abuse and forced labour.