Cops rescue four minors from Begumpur eatery

Four minor children, exploited and underpaid, from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have been rescued from a Begumpur restaurant on Wednesday.

The children were rescued by a team from Prayas, Sub District Magistrate (Rohini) and the police staff from Begumpur police station.

The minors were overworked and underpaid, and also sustained minor burn injuries to their hands while working.

According to Naved Anjum, a rescue worker involved in the operation, the children had been working for the past few months and exploited by the owners of Surjeet Punjabi Dhabha located at Jain Nagar.

"The children were paid a paltry sum. When we raided the premises, they were found working in hazardous conditions.

They had to work without any protective gear at the kitchen and would get their hands burnt," said Anjum.

Ranjeet (name changed), now 17-year-old left his studies after his family had incurred a lot of debt and came to Delhi seven years ago, managing to find work at the hotel.

"I have studied till the fifth standard. But my family had incurred a lot of debt which kept piling up so I had to leave everything and come to Delhi. Initially, I was enrolled at a government school at Rajeev Nagar, but I had to drop out," he said.

The minor would be paid Rs 4,500 and send it to his parents who have now also shifted to Delhi.

However, 15-year-old Mahender (name changed), who hails from Agra, had to join the hotel after his father died to support his mother and younger sister.

"My family does not have its own field. Without any stable source of income, there was no option left for me. I reached Delhi on May 9 and took the first job I could get my hands on. They paid me Rs 4,000 for chopping vegetables," he said.

"I was made to sweep the floor and did not mind doing that. I had come to Delhi as there was no work left in UP," said a 16-year-old rescued minor.