Rly instructs staff, Childline to verify details of those travelling with many children

Ludhiana: To counter child trafficking, railway authorities have instructed Childline members of city railway station to conduct random inspection in city-bound trains and get details of passengers travellign with more than two children, especially those coming from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Recently, railway protection forces had rescued 15 children. According to northern railway intelligence wing, minors are brought into the city to work labourers in the many factories of Ludhiana.

Kulwinder Singh, in charge of Chileline ( Ludhiana railway station), said “We have constituted teams for random inspection in trains coming from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as well as the platforms of the city station. We verify details of people travelling with more than two minor children.”

According to him, railway has asked the security forces to coordinate with Childline members as the rush in station premises will increase owing to festival season.

Balbir Singh, inspector at government railway police (Ldh), confirmed that details of passengers travelling with more than two minor children are being verified and random inspections are being conducted in incoming trains.

“Moreover, we have also started making announcements in station premises to create awareness among passengers as they can also raise alarm if they notice anything suspicious. We are on alert after getting inputs from intelligence wing that labour crises in Ludhiana can led to increase in child trafficking, as poor families in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are forced to send their children to city for earning some money.”

Tarun Kumar, station director of Ludhiana, said, “Railway has also given directions to ticket checking staff to keep vigilant eye on passengers travelling with more than two minor children and inform the Childline and railway protection forces team to verify the details to curb the menace of child trafficking.”