Telangana police have rescued 1,397 children, 354 girls and 1,043 boys, in January under the ‘Operation Smile’ programme.
These children were found at railway stations, bus-stands and on roads. While 660 children were reunited with their families, 731 were sent to rescue homes under the programme initiated by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Crime Investigation Department officials said.
Following the MHA letters on the issue, special police teams were formed in all sub-divisions of Telangana State with one Sub-Inspector and four constables.
Going around religious places, traffic junctions, footpaths, railway stations and bus-stands, these teams rescued children with the help of several voluntary organisations and Child Welfare Committees.