Odisha Police on Thursday arrested five individuals, including four women, for allegedly operating a child begging racket in Berhampur city. An official stated that nine minors were rescued during the operation.
The rescued children, among whom are three girls, range in age from just four months to 12 years, police said.
The accused have been identified as Mani Sindhe (65), Ajaya Kajri Sindhe (30), Rani Sindhe (30), Puja Power (20), and Sita Power (40). All five accused reside near the Berhampur Railway Station under the jurisdiction of the Gosani Nuagaon police station. Police further stated that the verification of their identities is currently underway.
Following their rescue, the children were produced before the District Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to initiate the process for their proper rehabilitation.
The police launched the crackdown after receiving intelligence regarding a group systematically exploiting children for begging.
A team comprising police personnel, officials of the District Child Protection Unit and members of the CWC began an investigation on Tuesday.
During the surveillance, police found that the group would arrive in an autorickshaw every morning to drop the children off at busy traffic signals and crowded hubs to solicit money.
“The adults accompanying the children would remain at a distance on the roadside and keep watch while the children begged at traffic signals,” a police officer said.
The children were strategically left at various high-traffic locations across the city, a practice that has allegedly been ongoing for several months.
Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M said that the suspects were apprehended once investigators had gathered sufficient evidence.
During questioning, the accused failed to provide proof of identity or clarify their biological relationship with the rescued minors, the SP said.
“The accused were talking in Hindi. We are trying to ascertain their identities, and further investigation is going on,” he said.
