25 minors from state rescued from Delhi and nearby areas

Ranchi: A total of 25 Jharkhand teens, aged between 12 and 17 years, were rescued from Delhi and its neighbouring areas and brought to the city, the state IRPD department said on Thursday.
The children — seven from Khunti, 14 from Sahibganj, and four from Godda — were freed by the Integrated Rehabilitation and Resource Centre, Jharkhand Bhawan-Delhi, in collaboration with the Delhi Police and NGOs, it said.
"Our priority now is to ensure the safe re-integration of these children into their families and provide them with the necessary support for a better future," said Manoj Kumar, secretary of the women and child development department.
The rescued children would be rehabilitated under the supervision of the state women and child development department, he added.
The nodal officer of the rehabilitation centre, Nachiketa, said the rescue was initiated based on intelligence gathered from traffickers, Poonam Marandi and Ishwar Turi, who were arrested from Sahibganj.
Rahul Singh, a rehabilitation officer involved in the operation, said, "The children were found in a vulnerable condition. Their rescue was made possible due to the relentless efforts of our team."
The children were brought to Ranchi by a team led by Khunti child development project officer (CDPO) Altaf Khan and Sahibganj CDPO Poonam Kumari. A home verification of the children would be conducted before their reintegration after undergoing counselling, officials said.
"People can report trafficking cases on the toll-free number, 10582," said Nirmala Khalkho of the rehabilitation centre.