Delhi police’s Khoj helps out lost kids

Delhi Police have rescued as many as 750 children in three months from railway stations as part of an initiative launched by the force. Many of the children have been united with their parents.

Delhi Police have rescued as many as 750 children in three months from railway stations as part of an initiative launched by the force. Many of the children have been united with their parents.

The initiative, called Khoj, was launched to bolster efforts by the force to rescue minors found wandering alone near railway stations. Those found were taken to the police station and asked for details. Their parents were contacted and arrangements made for a reunion.

In a few of the cases, the children were sent back to their parents in villages in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

When the children’s parents were not found, the police took help of NGOs in keeping them in shelter homes.

“The children face numerous dangers. The initiative is to ensure that they are not kidnapped by traffickers,” Sanjay Bhatia, additional DCP (railways), said.

The police had last year rescued 1,030 children from Delhi’s five railway stations. “Till now, we used to act on information provided by NGOs and help them in rescuing children brought here from various states. But this initiative is taken to help those who are lost at stations and have nowhere to go,” Bhatia added.

As part of the scheme, police personnel identify children walking alone in and around the railway stations. Initially, they look for their parents or relatives but if found to be alone, they are taken to the police station.

The initiative has been welcomed by the NGOs, who feel railway stations are hubs of trafficking.

“Most of the trafficking gangs operate from railway stations and kidnap children from there. In crowded areas like these, it is easy to kidnap a minor,” Rishikant of NGO Shaktivahini said.