Bengaluru police rescues 190 children under 'Operation Smile'

BENGALURU: In perhaps the biggest move to investigate suspected child trafficking, the police rescued 190 children, including 30 infants, from beggars in the city.

The 'Operation Smile' began at 10 am across the seven divisions of the city police and included members from the Women and Child Welfare department, Child Welfare Committee, doctors from various hospitals and 10 NGOs.

The rescued children will be rehabilitated at the bala mandirs run by the state government. Some children would be accommodated in NGOs due to shortage of space.

"Malls, temples, railway stations, bus stops, theatres and major junctions in the city were common places where beggars using children were found," said P Harishekaran, Additional Commissioner of Police (East).

The officer said that if investigations found that the children are not with family , the police will subject both child and adult to a DNA test. If it is a case of a child being used by the parents for begging, police will send them to the Child Welfare Committee for further action. In case of children being used by people who are not family , cases will be booked against the adults, police said.