Surat: Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) rescued five children, including three girls, who were forced into begging, from near Star Bazaar crossroad in Adajan on Saturday.
Of the five rescued all aged between 3 to 10 years, four were siblings forced into begging by their father and were given a target of collecting Rs 500 daily. They further informed police that if they failed to achieve the target, their father would thrash them.
The children were sent to Children Home in Katargam and Rander since their parents were yet to be traced. The rescue operation by AHTU is part of the special drive ordered by city police commissioner Ajay Tomar.
Parents of the children were booked under sections of Juvenile Justice Act at in Adajan police station. Police also booked Sunil Marathi, father of the four siblings, three girls and a boy, and Heena Kalu, mother of one of the girls.
Following the instruction of senior police officials, a team of AHTU had kept watch on children begging at the crossroad.
“The four siblings informed that their father forces them into begging and use to beat them up if they did not get enough money,” said A J Chaudhary, police inspector, AHTU.
“Children can be seen begging on roads by risking their lives. We are trying to stop this. Other departments should also take actions to solve this problem,” said H R Muliyana, in-charge police commissioner, Surat.