Authorities have rescued 72 children who were being forced into begging and hazardous activities on city streets. The operation, carried out jointly by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, police, and the Gujarat social welfare department, targeted multiple hotspots across the commercial city.
Among those detained were 24 individuals accused of coercing minors into begging and forcing them to perform dangerous tasks. These activities included cleaning vehicle windows at traffic signals during peak hours, executing risky stunts on roadways, and compelling the children into labour, according to the civic body’s statement.
The rescued children underwent medical examinations at a designated facility before being presented before the Child Welfare Committee. Ten minors were subsequently moved to a Child Welfare Home, while 62 others were returned to their parents and guardians with explicit warnings against future exploitation.
Seventeen men taken into custody during the operation were brought before a court and transferred to beggar homes. Officials confirmed that cases under various provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act are being registered against those accused of exploiting the children.