RPF rescues 376 children who went missing or ran away

Deccan Herald

6 days ago

A total of 376 children who had gone missing or run away from their homes were rescued by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of South Western Railway (SWR) Hubballi division under the 'Operation Nanhe Farishte' over the past four and a half years.There are 123 railway stations in the Hubballi division, where thousands of passengers travel in trains every day. Among the passengers, children are a very common sight. According to the data provided by SWR, the police personnel have rescued 80 girls and 296 boys from the 123 railway station of the division from 2021 to June 2025.However, the number of missing or runaway children was dropping during the Covid-19 pandemic time, but post Covid period, the number of missing or runaway cases are gradually increasing and rescue too. The Hubballi division has been rescuing an average of 100 children every year.According to the data shared by RPF, they rescued 39 children, including 11 girls in 2021, 104 children, including 24 girls in 2022, 100 children, including 17 girls in 2023, 97 children, including 20 girls in 2024, and 36 children, including eight girls in the first half of 2025.A senior railway officer said the 'Operation Nanhe Farishte' initiative focuses on identifying and rescuing children who are victims of trafficking, runaways, or child labour and ensuring their safe return to their families or appropriate care facilities.The initiative has been implemented across the country and RPF personnel are working in co-ordination with the police and other government departments to rescue the children.The SWR has installed a network of 943 CCTV cameras having AI technology in 79 stations in the division, which help enhance passenger safety as well as keep a vigil on the movements of lone child, in the railway stations.The RPF Senior Divisional Security Commissioner Alok Kumar said in the post Covid period they rescued more than 376 children, who went missing or ran away from homes. All the rescued children were reunited with their family with the help of the District Child Welfare Committee officials.'Soon after rescuing children, our officials inform the same to the respective District Child Welfare Committee officials, who take the responsibility of the rescued child. They will find out the family of the rescued children with the help of police and then they handover the child to their family members,' he added.