Odisha cops to visit other states to trace missing children

Bhubaneswar: Odisha police will conduct a special drive from May 21 to 30 to trace and rescue children from Odisha and believed to be languishing in other states. The crime against women and children wing (CAW&CW) of the state crime branch has issued a detailed SOP to ensure smooth implementation.Under the plan, each police range has been assigned two states for operations. The eastern range will cover West Bengal and Assam, the central range will tour New Delhi and Rajasthan, the north-central range will visit Jharkhand and Bihar, the northern range Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, the western range Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, the south-western range Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the southern range Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, while the commissionerate police will focus on Maharashtra and Gujarat.Investigations into several missing child cases reveal that many children often migrate outside Odisha, where they are engaged in labour at construction sites, hotels, and restaurants, or employed as domestic helps in residential areas. “However, officers face challenges due to lack of leads or delays in pursuing cases across jurisdictions. Many rescued minors remain in child care institutes of other states for extended periods without being reunited with their families,” a senior police officer said.Each range team will comprise 11 members, led by an ASP and including two DSPs, inspectors, SIs/ASIs, and four constables. Teams will be split into two groups — each with at least two female officers — to visit destination states.“We have requested the women and child development department to nominate two representatives, preferably district child protection officers, to accompany each range team,” the police officer said.The CAW&CW will compile data on untraced children and share it with teams. Officers will verify child care institutes, check the Mission Vatsalya portal for institutionalized Odia children, and coordinate with child welfare committees. They will also liaise with Odia associations in destination states, labour officers, and district child protection officers to gather intelligence, including visits to labour colonies.Range IGPs/DIGs have been advised to brief teams three days before departure, monitor progress daily, and submit consolidated reports by June 5 after the operation concludes.