Maligaon, August 21 (MExN): The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has rescued 738 runaway children and prevented the trafficking of 89 women and children between January and July this year.
During the same period, nine alleged traffickers were apprehended, according to an official release.
The rescued minors and women were handed over to Childline, NGOs, parents, or the Government Railway Police (GRP)/local police following due process, it stated.
Meanwhile, in a series of operations conducted between August 16 and 19, RPF-NFR personnel rescued 16 runaway minors from various trains and stations across its jurisdiction and ensured their safe custody through proper channels.
These included two minors rescued during escort duty at Maligaon and Dibrugarh on August 16, as well as one rescued by the RPF Post of Dimapur on August 17. On August 18, multiple rescues were carried out in Katihar, Purnea, Kokrajhar and Alipurduar, where five minors were recovered from stations and trains and handed over to the respective Childline units or guardians after proper identification.
On August 19, another seven minors were rescued from Guwahati, Kamakhya, Dibrugarh, Jalalgarh and Alipurduar railway stations and handed over to Childline or guardians.
Reiterating its commitment to the protection of children in need of care and assistance, the RPF-NFR appealed to passengers to remain vigilant and to immediately report any unattended or suspected child to the RPF helpline number 139.
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