Bhubaneswar: Child trafficking continues to remain unabated even during the lockdown period with no slowdown in the activities of the child traffickers in the past five months. Recently, more than 20 innocent children have been rescued by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) from the clutches of the evil act in Odisha's Bhubaneswar.
With the hike in the number of child trafficking cases during the nationwide lockdown, there are no reports in police stations about these incidents.
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By taking advantage of financial problems and family issues, child traffickers are expanding their business of exploitation. According to reports, the Childline has rescued a 10-year-old juvenile from Unit One Market area on May 16. Similarly, on June 18, a 14-year-old boy had been rescued near Jayadurga Temple under Nayapalli Police Station area.
The trafficker had brought these children to Bhubaneswar for engaging them in household chores. A 15-year-old girl who had been brought to Bhubaneswar on the pretence of providing her with a job was rescued from Barmunda under Khandagiri police station on July 4. The Childline had also rescued a 16-year-old young boy just before the Dhauli Crossing on July 17.
On July 12, under Dhauli Police Station limits one person has held a 14-year-old girl under captivity claiming that she was his daughter, but since he could not provide the identity of the girl, the Childline team rescued the girl from his custody.
As per Commissionerate Police reports, not a single incident of child trafficking had occurred during the last five months of lockdown. Meanwhile, only one incident of child trafficking has been reported in July 2019 according to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Psychologists believe that its a matter of great concern and the situation would gradually aggravate after the lockdown period is over. Under such circumstances, the administration along with the Police and Childline must also come forward to stop the humiliation faced by children.
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