In its continued action under ‘Operation Muskaan 10’, the Mumbai police reunited 145 missing children with their families last month. The initiative started on June 1, continuing until June 30. Till May 2021, the police had reunited 909 missing children under the age of 18 with their families.
A police official said that all 93 police stations in the city had a dedicated team headed by a sub-inspector with four constables to trace missing children. Crime branch officials have also been involved in this initiative.
Balsingh Rajput, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Preventive), Mumbai crime branch, said, “We have solved cases of missing children, kidnapping, child labour, child trafficking, child marriage, among others. The smile on the face of parents and children when they are reunited is another level of appreciation.”
Another police official said that from among these 145 cases, 128 of them (105 girls and 23 boys) were reported at police stations. Though nine of them had no record, the family was traced and children reunited with them. He said eight of them were rescued from child labour.