Karnataka police rescued 800 child labourers during a statewide operation, with Bengaluru accounting for 503 of the children found working at commercial and industrial establishments, officials said on Sunday.
The statewide action came days after chief minister D K Shivakumar visited the Yeshwanthpur Agricultural Produce Market Committee yard and found children working there. He directed police and other officials to identify establishments employing children and take action against those responsible. The inspections covered shops, factories, garages, construction sites, hotels, markets, restaurants, petrol stations, malls and other establishments where children could be employed. “A majority of the children rescued are from hotels, restaurants, eateries, petrol pumps, grocery stores and warehouses. Police classified the employment detected during the operation as hazardous or non-hazardous. Where children were found working in hazardous occupations, first information reports were registered against employers. Notices were issued against employers found engaging children. The operation was intended to identify establishments continuing to employ children and initiate legal action against employers. The involvement of Labour Department officials alongside police teams allowed inspections and enforcement action to be carried out together.
In Bengaluru, police inspected 5,897 premises across 188 police station limits. Police teams from all 11 city divisions, along with two Central Crime Branch teams, participated in the operation. Vijayapura police inspected 1,156 premises and rescued 72 children. Authorities recorded 25 instances of action in the district, including three first information reports. Tumakuru reported 33 rescues after inspections at 660 premises. Koppal police rescued 27 children after checking 95 premises under 14 police stations.
Because they can be paid far less than adults,” Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said, they had been employed.
Employers found engaging children in non-hazardous work were issued notices, a senior officer involved in the operation said.
