Post News Network
Cuttack, Dec 27: Crime Branch (CB) police would launch an ‘Operation Smile’ drive January 1, intensifying its effort to rescue missing children in the state. It held a training camp here Saturday, highlighting implementation of the Children’s Rights Act.
Inaugurating the camp, DGP Sanjiv Marik asked police to take ‘missing’ complaints seriously and act promptly. Marik also talked to district superintendents of police, asking them to intensify ‘Operation Smile’ to trace missing kids. It is learnt that as many as 350 children have been rescued between December 8 and 14 though a special operation by police.
According to Crime Branch, 9,000 children have gone missing in the last four years. While 2,500 children have been rescued, the whereabouts of 6,500 children are unknown.
Crime Branch ADG Bijay Kumar Sharma said children engaged in begging, cleaning utensils and other household works at bus-stands, shrines and temples will be traced through Operation Smile. Their photos would be taken and published in the media. Besides, photos of the rescued kids will be uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Child Development. Police would adhere to the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court and the Centre in this connection, Sharma maintained.
Recently, the Supreme Court had come down heavily on Orissa Police for its failure to trace missing children. The apex court had also directed chief secretary and director general of police (DGP) to depose before it to know what is happening on the ground.
Bachpan Banchao, a voluntary organization run by Nobel-winning Kailash Satyarthi had filed a petition in the Supreme Court. It urged the apex court to direct the chief secretary and DGP of Orissa to explain the steps taken to rescue the missing children. The petitioner had also accused the police of maintaining a studied silence after registering missing complaints. It was following the SC order that Crime Branch decided to launch Operation Smile.
