Cyberabad Police Launch Operation Smile-XI to Rescue Homeless and Trafficked Children
The Cyberabad Police have initiated Operation Smile-XI, a month-long campaign that began on January 1. This operation aims to rescue and rehabilitate homeless children, those forced into child labor, and children involved in begging or rag-picking. To carry out this mission, 11 special teams have been formed to identify and assist trafficked and vulnerable children.
On Monday, the Women & Children Safety Wing (W&CSW), in partnership with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), held a convergence meeting to discuss the progress of Operation Smile-XI. The initiative focuses on tracing missing children and rescuing those trapped in begging, child labor, bonded labor, or trafficking.
K Srujana, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for W&CSW, highlighted the use of advanced tools like the facial recognition software ‘Darphan’ to identify missing or unidentified children. This technology will help reunite children with their families. She also shared that each of the 11 teams includes one Sub-Inspector, four police constables, and at least one female constable.
The operation, which will run until the end of January, is being conducted with support from various stakeholder departments. Police teams have identified hotspots where children are often forced into labor, based on data from previous cases. These teams, in coordination with other departments, will work on both rescuing the children and ensuring their proper rehabilitation.
