Children brought to Kerala from Jharkhand, Bihar, WB for studies: Bihar govt tells court

Kochi, Nov 10: Bihar government today informed the Kerala High Court that children had been brought from their state to Kerala for studies and it was not human trafficking.

Over 500 children had been brought to Kerala from the eastern states of Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal, early this year for being sent to various orphanages. In an affidavit filed by Deputy Director of Social Welfare Department, Bihar, it was stated that children were brought from Bihar after taking permission of their parents.

The government had conducted an investigation through Crime Branch and it was revealed that no child trafficking was involved, it was stated. The court posted the cases for hearing after two weeks. The racket was busted by the Railway Police as the children arrived at Palakkad station and the adults who accompanied them were found to have no valid documents for taking the children from the home state.

They claimed that the children were mostly meant for orphanages in north Kerala and had come with the consent of their parents. However, they could not produce any document to support their claim.

PTI