In Chhattisgarh’s Kabirdham district (formerly Kawardha), police and child protection agencies rescued 13 children belonging to the Baiga tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). The children, aged between 8 and 15 years, were allegedly forced into bonded labour at cattle rearing units near the Kanha National Park region.
Officials said the rescue was carried out jointly by the police, Childline, the Women and Child Development Department, and the Association for Voluntary Action (AVA), which had been tracking the trafficking network for nearly two weeks before alerting authorities.
Children Lured from Villages and Forced into Exploitative Work
According to investigators, the children were trafficked from remote villages around seven to eight months ago after being lured with promises of money and better living conditions. Instead, they were made to work in extremely harsh conditions.
The First Information Report (FIR) states that the children were forced to work for over 10 hours daily in cattle rearing units and were paid only ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 per month.
Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Singh, who led the operation, said immediate action was taken after receiving credible intelligence. “As soon as we were informed, we plunged into action. These children were forced into bonded labour and were living in extremely exploitative conditions,” he said.
He added, “An FIR has been lodged and the search is on to nab all the perpetrators who are part of this network. We will ensure that all the criminals are brought to justice at the earliest.”
Chain of Raids Leads to Multiple Locations and Arrests
Officials said the rescue initially began with four children found at one site. After being rescued, the children helped identify other locations where more minors were being held. This led to a wider operation across four different places in the district.
By the end of the day-long raid, all 13 children were rescued and 10 traffickers were arrested. Police officials said the accused had been exploiting vulnerable tribal families by offering small amounts of money and false promises of a better future.
“Extremely Disturbing Exploitation of Tribal Children,” Say Child Rights Groups
Child rights organisations described the incident as a serious reflection of the vulnerability of tribal communities to trafficking networks.
Manish Sharma, Senior Director of the Association for Voluntary Action, said, “The rescue highlights the growing vulnerability of children from marginalised tribal communities to trafficking networks. These networks prey on extreme vulnerability and lure families with cash and false promises.”
He added, “It is deeply disturbing that children as young as eight years old are pushed into hazardous and exploitative working conditions. We must now ensure rehabilitation, education, and dignity for them.”
Legal Action and Rehabilitation Process Underway
After the rescue, all 13 children were shifted to child care institutions for immediate protection and care. They are being produced before the Child Welfare Committee for further rehabilitation procedures.
Police have registered cases under laws related to human trafficking, bonded labour, child labour, and provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act against the arrested suspects.
Authorities said further investigation is underway to dismantle the wider trafficking network operating in the region, while efforts continue to trace other possible victims.
