8 women held on charge of trafficking of children for begging

The Government Railway Police (GRP) today arrested eight women on charge of kidnapping children and forcing them into begging in the city.

The accused women hailing from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were identified as K Basanta, R Manjula, Jai Amma, Uppama, Venkata Amma, Shyanta Amma, Munni Amma and Sushila, A GRP official said.

GRP personnel also rescued five children who were allegedly engaged in begging during the operation, the official said.

Acting on a complaint of a city-based voluntary organization, the GRP conducted search operations at different railway stations in and around Bhubaneswar, he said.

The women were allegedly utilising some children for begging while projecting themselves as deaf, dumb and physically challenged to gain sympathy of railway passengers.
 

The police raids followed rescue of a 10-year old boy, who was allegedly forced into begging by the gang earlier, the official said.

GRP have registered a case against the arrested under sections 363 (A), 468, 471, 472, 420, 120 (B) of IPC and 24 (1) (2) of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.