Nineteen children were rescued from shops at Bengaluru’s Yeshwanthpur APMC market after Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar ordered immediate action against employers and those who had sent the children to work, police said.
The action followed Shivakumar’s visit to the market on Tuesday, during which he interacted with farmers, labourers and traders about their grievances. Members of the public reportedly informed him that minor boys were working at some shops. After noticing children at work, the Chief Minister directed the police to take action by the evening.
He also warned that the Circle Inspector, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police concerned could face suspension if immediate action was not taken, according to the report.
Five special teams comprising police and Labour Department officials were subsequently formed under the supervision of Bengaluru North Division Deputy Commissioner of Police B S Nemagouda. The teams carried out a search operation at the market and rescued the children.
Of those rescued, 13 were from Bihar, including 12 boys and one girl. Two children were from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, while one each was from Rajasthan and Karnataka, police said.
Police registered four cases at the RMC Yard police station against shop owners under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, and the Juvenile Justice Act. Five additional cases were registered against shop owners under the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.
The police and Labour Department teams also rescued 10 children who were allegedly working on the roadside. The children were produced before the Child Welfare Committee, which handles matters concerning children in need of care and protection.
The reported action places responsibility on both the employers accused of engaging children and the authorities responsible for enforcing child labour and juvenile justice laws at the market. The cases will proceed under the laws cited by the police.
