Nineteen alleged child labourers, including one girl, were rescued from shops at Bengaluru’s Yeshwanthapura APMC market after Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar conducted a surprise inspection on September 8, according to the city police and labour department.
The rescue operation followed the chief minister’s visit to the agricultural produce market, where he inspected facilities and interacted with growers, traders, market-yard owners and members of the public. Police said Shivakumar noticed minors working at shops and directed officials to rescue them and initiate action against those employing children.
Following the instruction, five teams comprising personnel from the North Division police and the labour department conducted raids in the market. The teams rescued 19 minors, including a girl, who were allegedly working in different shops. Police said 13 of the rescued children, including the girl, were from Bihar. Two each were from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, while one was from Karnataka. The reported origins of the remaining child were not specified in the available account.
Police also said that 10 other minors found moving around the market area were rescued and handed over to the district child protection committee. The report did not specify whether these children were among those found working in shops or were handled as a separate child-protection intervention.
Nine separate first information reports were registered against shop owners accused of employing the minors, according to City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh. The cases were filed after the joint operation by the police and labour department. Authorities described the employment of children as a punishable offence and said further legal action would follow under applicable law.
Singh appealed to residents to inform the police or labour department if they found children being employed anywhere in the city. The appeal places responsibility for reporting suspected violations on citizens as well as enforcement agencies, while the rescued children remain under the care of the relevant child-protection authorities.
During his visit, Shivakumar also heard complaints and suggestions from farmers, traders, market-yard owners and members of the public. He said understanding the problems faced by farmers and people using the market was part of his responsibility as chief minister. The authorities’ next steps are the investigation of the nine FIRs and the follow-up care and verification process for the rescued minors.
