On September 4, the second phase of Operation Masoom, an initiative of the Ghaziabad Police to track missing children, was launched and over 200 children were rescued from various dhabas, hotels and other industrial units.

“Most of the rescued children said they had no clue about either their hometowns or parents. Many were working in hazardous chemical factories. We had to counsel every child to make him or her speak out,” said Happy Guptan, ASP, Ghaziabad.

As the police had no place to accommodate the children, they were sent to child care homes run by NGOs. Most children belonged to eastern India and even refused to speak about life back home.

“I got lost in New Delhi railway station. I kept looking for my cousin with whom I came to Delhi. He used to work in a factory, he told my father. My parents sent me here. I had studied till class II in Bihar, but do not remember the address. I have often wondered whether he brought me here only to dump me,” said the child who has several friends who have met the same fate.

Israel, 12, came to Ashadeep Foundation, an NGO in Ghaziabad in 2005 when he was eight.

On February 19, the day when Ghaziabad police launched the Operation, over a hundred children were rescued.

“I received 104 children that very night. We counselled them and made them feel comfortable. They said they did not know how they landed in Ghaziabad. There are 23 children in my home whose parents could not be traced. We sent letters to the addresses given by children, but the letters returned to us,” said Shetty of Ashadeep Foundation.

... contd.