Guwahati: In a heartening display of vigilance and compassion, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has once again stepped up as a guardian for the vulnerable, rescuing 16 runaway children across its vast network in the past week alone.
This commendable effort brings the total number of minors rescued since January this year to an impressive 843, a testament to the unwavering commitment of the security forces to child safety. The children, all of whom had left their homes for various reasons, were found by vigilant RPF personnel on different trains and at stations, and were subsequently ensured safe custody through established channels.
The NFR’s continuous drive against trafficking has also yielded significant results, with 89 children and women rescued from the clutches of traffickers between January and July. In this period, nine traffickers were also apprehended, disrupting their nefarious operations. The rescued children and women were handed over to Child Line, NGOs, parents, or the Government Railway Police (GRP) after due process.
The recent string of rescues began on August 16, when RPF personnel on escort duty on a train rescued two runaway children from Maligaon, handing them over to the Bongaigaon and Chirang Child Lines. On the same day, RPF Dibrugarh rescued a minor boy and handed him over to Child Line. The next day, August 17, RPF Dimapur rescued a minor boy and ensured his safe custody. The following days saw a surge in rescues across the zone.
On August 18, five runaway minors were rescued from various stations and trains in Katihar, Purnea, Kokrajhar, and Alipurduar, and were handed over to their guardians or the respective Child Lines after proper identification.
The trend continued on August 19, with security forces rescuing seven minors from Guwahati, Kamakhya, Dibrugarh, Jalalgarh, and Alipurduar railway stations, ensuring their safe return to their guardians or Child Lines. The consistent and proactive efforts of the RPF are not only saving lives but also reaffirming the railways’ role as a vital pillar of public safety and a ray of hope for those in distress.
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