Patna: Bihar Police have traced 3,359 missing children and rescued 3,357 children, including 652 boys and 2,705 girls, under Operation Talash between Aug 20 and Sept 2 as part of a statewide campaign to locate missing, lost and abducted children.The campaign, launched by the weaker sections division of the crime investigation department (CID), Bihar, under the direction of ADG (weaker sections) K Suhita Anupam, began on Aug 20 and will continue till Sept 10. It aims to trace missing, lost and abducted children and update their records.According to police headquarters (PHQ), a total of 2,254 entries of missing children were made on the Mission Vatsalya portal between Aug 20 and Sept 2. During the same period, police traced 3,359 children, while 2,787 children were matched with records available on the portal. Of the children rescued during the drive, 652 were boys and 2,705 were girls. The portal matching exercise covered 483 boys and 2,303 girls.A PHQ statement said, “The campaign is being conducted through a coordinated effort involving several police units and personnel. Nodal officers and officials of Special Juvenile Police Units, Women and Child Welfare Help Desks, Child Welfare Police Officers (CWPOs), Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs), women police station heads and members of the Police Didi initiative, including the Abhaya Brigade, are participating in the operation.”Police said information related to missing children is being regularly uploaded on the Mission Vatsalya portal to facilitate identification and reunification with families. The campaign also includes verification of pending child abduction cases, including those linked to alleged child marriages.OperationTalashalsoextendsbeyondpolicestations.WiththeapprovalofJuvenileJusticeBoardsanddistrictchildwelfarecommittees,policeteamsarevisitingobservationhomes,remandhomesandchildcareinstitutions(CCIs).Officialsareinteractingwithchildrenhousedintheseinstitutions,includingchildreninconflictwithlaw(CICL)andchildreninneedofcareandprotection(CNCP),andprovidingthemwithguidanceandcounselling.AccordingtoaBiharPolicereport,theMissionVatsalyaportalhassofarhelpedtrace6,857children,while4,273childrenhavebeenmatchedwithrelevantrecords.
