Human trafficking gang busted in Ludhiana, 5 kids rescued

The focal point police claimed to have busted a human trafficking gang that used to push children into begging after kidnapping them from other states and maiming them.Police also claimed to have arrested the gang kingpin, identified as Raju, from Dholewal area on Monday.

Cops rescued five children from the railway station area, including Deepak and Vishal, who hail from Amethi (Uttar Pradesh) and West Bengal, respectively. Both have been sent to the children's home in Mohali. The others rescued are Saurav of Dholewal, Mohit and Rohit. Mohit and Rohit have been admitted to the civil hospital.

The case came to light after Sourabh (10) managed to escape from the clutches of the gang and narrated the incident to his parents, who later lodged an FIR at the focal point police station.

Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Naveen Singla said Raju had named his accomplice, Saleem, for whom the police had launched a manhunt.

The accused will be produced in the court on Tuesday.During the interrogation, the accused confessed that he used to kidnap children and push them into begging at various places in the city.

Inspector Jatinderjit Singh, SHO, focal point police station, said accused Raju told the police that his men approached children at the railway station and the bus stand. They used to lure children by taking them to malls for watching movies and also got them addicted to drugs.

Sub-inspector Mukesh Kumar, incharge, Sherpur police post, said the accused had revealed that every child collected around Rs 250 in a day from begging and deposited the amount with the gang leaders. They gave Rs 50 to each kid as his share.