Khammam police rescue 122 children in Operation Muskaan-XII

Khammam: The Khammam Police Commissionerate rescued 122 children during the month-long Operation Muskaan-XII, a special statewide initiative conducted from July 1 to July 31 to trace missing children and rescue minors from child labour, begging and other vulnerable situations. Police Commissioner Sunil Dutt said the rescued children included 110 boys and 12 girls. Of the total, 69 children were from Telangana, while the remaining 53 belonged to other States.

The operation was carried out by four special teams comprising officials from the Khammam Police, Labour Department, District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and voluntary organisations. The teams conducted inspections at industries, factories, shops, hotels, construction sites and other establishments to identify child labourers, children forced into begging and minors living in unsafe conditions.

All rescued children were registered on the DARPAN application to streamline identification, rehabilitation and family reunification.

During the drive, police registered 53 FIRs against individuals allegedly involved in employing or exploiting children. Following legal formalities, 103 children were reunited with their families, while 19 were admitted to child care institutions for protection, counselling and rehabilitation. Commissioner Sunil Dutt said Operation Muskaan aims to trace missing children, rescue those facing exploitation and ensure their rehabilitation in a safe environment.

He added that the successful completion of the month-long campaign reflects the commitment of the Khammam Police and allied departments to safeguarding children’s rights and strengthening child protection across the commissionerate.