81 children united with families under Operation Muskaan

Gautam Buddh Nagar: As many as 81 children, 36 girls and 45 boys, were rescued and united with their families by Noida Police and the anti-human trafficking unit (AHTU) under Operation Muskaan on Monday.

According to the police, the department had formed nine teams and launched a search operation to trace missing children from June 18 onwards. Each team comprised one sub-inspector and two constables. The police teams were also coordinating with child rights NGO Childline to trace the missing children. The teams have visited different areas of Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzaffar Nagar, Moradabad, Kanpur, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Hapur and other districts.

"We verified the addresses and parents' names disclosed by the children, and if the credentials match, children are taken to their families. The kids are then handed over to their families after getting their medical checkup done," said Dr Ajay Pal Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police, Gautam Buddha Nagar. The police said that they questioned the children begging at red lights and railway stations in the area. Those found roaming on the streets or those who looked suspicious were also questioned.

Dr Sharma further added that the operation will continue till August 18 and several more children are expected to be united with their families.

Meanwhile, the officer informed that the idea of tracing missing children was launched as Operation Muskaan in 2015. The programme received wide appreciation, following which the central government adopted this exercise at the national

level.