A joint search by anti-trafficking wing of police department, Social Welfare Department, District Child Protection Unit and Childline to locate 15 missing children recorded in police first information reports registered in the district was initiated by Superintendent of Police R. Sivakumar on Friday.
The third phase of ‘Operation Muskaan’ during the course of this month will witness teams fanning out to bus stands, railway stations, shelter homes, worship spots and other places of public confluence besides schools with the photos of the missing children, District Child Protection Officer A. Suresh said.
Such missing children below the age of 18 years found by the teams will be entrusted under the care of Child Welfare Committee that arranges for counselling and rehabilitation in case reunion with families do not materialise.
There have been instances of runaway children hailing from Bihar and other North Indian States being restored to their parents and families, Mr. Suresh said.
Training is being imparted on a periodic basis by the DCPU to the police personnel involved in such operations on methodology to extract information from such children tactfully without intimidation.
The law enforcers are also apprised during such training programs about the various provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) JJ Act, Protection of Child Right Act, relevant sections of Cr.PC & IPC and Advisories issued by MHA. Data with full details of number of cases of missing children are being shared at intra-State and Inter-state level. Particulars of such identified children are uploaded on the 'Missing child' portal of the Ministry of Women and Child Development by the respective State Police.
Th Child Welfare Committees carry out rehabilitation in coordination with departments of Women and Child Development, Police, and Labour so as to eliminate scope of re-victimisation.
