Beneath the veneer of progress, the heart-wrenching reality of child exploitation was starkly revealed in a Ghaziabad slaughterhouse raid.
In a remarkable collaborative effort, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the Ghaziabad Police successfully rescued 57 minors from a slaughterhouse in Ghaziabad on Wednesday. The minors, consisting of 31 girls and 26 boys, were found working illegally at the International Agro Food slaughterhouse, owned by Yasin Qureshi.
The True Scale of the Issue
The raid, conducted in the Mussoorie area of Ghaziabad, uncovered that these children had been trafficked from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal under the pretense of legitimate employment opportunities. Once brought to Ghaziabad, they were subjected to harsh working conditions and forced into animal slaughtering. NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanungo disclosed that the commission had long received reports of these illicit activities. "After receiving concrete information, we carried out a joint raid on the slaughterhouse," Kanungo stated. He also mentioned that the actual number of rescued minors could be higher as the operation is still in progress.
Tip-off Sparks Raid
ADCP (Crime) Sacchidanand of the Ghaziabad Police elaborated that the operation began after a complaint was lodged with the NCPCR in New Delhi by the Child Welfare Committee. The complaint highlighted that approximately 40 children from West Bengal and Bihar were being unlawfully employed at the slaughterhouse. Consequently, a team was assembled by the Ghaziabad Commissioner to conduct the raid.
Promises Broken, Children Exploited
During the rescue, it was discovered that the children were working in appalling conditions, involved in tasks such as cutting and packing meat, for a meager wage of Rs 300 per day. Many had been held as bonded laborers for years, working under duress and without any freedom. Authorities are now focused on providing the rescued children with essential support, including medical care, counseling, and rehabilitation services. All rescued minors will be presented before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) after receiving medical treatment.
आज उत्तरप्रदेश के ग़ाज़ियाबाद ज़िले के मसूरी इलाक़े में याशीन कुरेशी के इंटरनेशनल एग्रो फ़ूड के पशु क़त्लखाने पर @NCPCR_ के निर्देश पर @Uppolice के साथ की गयी संयुक्त छापामार कार्यवाही में 57 नाबालिगों (31 लड़कियाँ व 26 लड़कों इनमें दिव्यांग भी शामिल हैं।) को रेस्क्यू किया गया है… pic.twitter.com/0pmkT2dHgg— प्रियंक कानूनगो Priyank Kanoongo (मोदी का परिवार) (@KanoongoPriyank) May 29, 2024
Legal Proceedings Initiated
Legal action is currently being taken against Yasin Qureshi, the owner of the slaughterhouse. Charges have been filed under the Bonded Labour Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The rescue team comprised members from various organizations, including NCPCR, Mukti Foundation, Police, Administration, Childline, Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, and Labour Department teams.
Despite the serious allegations, International Agro Food, the company operating the slaughterhouse, asserts that their facilities are HACCP-approved and ISO-certified, adhering to stringent Halal practices. The company exports meat products to several international markets, including West Africa, CIS countries, the Middle East, Egypt, and South Asia.
As the rescued minors find solace, their haunting ordeal reveals a stark reality of exploited innocence, echoing the silent cries of countless others lost in the shadows of exploitation and cruelty.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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