Cyberabad police arrest parents for forcing children into begging
HYDERABAD: Cyberabad Police have launched a crackdown on child begging after they detected cases of children being dressed as Mahatma Gandhi and forced to beg at traffic signals, road junctions and other public places, officials said.
Recently, police rescued five minor boys who were begging at the Cyber Tower junction. They registered a case against the children’s parents at Madhapur police station for repeatedly forcing them to beg on roads. Later, police arrested the parents, produced them before a court and remanded them to judicial custody.
According to officials, several cases have come to light where parents or guardians compelled children to beg for money. As a result, the children faced serious risks, especially in high-traffic areas.
First case registered against parents
Officials termed the action a first-of-its-kind initiative in Cyberabad. Notably, police booked cases directly against parents for exploiting their children. They said such acts amount to cruelty and exploitation. Moreover, these practices violate the rights, dignity and well-being of children.
“Parents who repeatedly force their children to beg will face stringent legal action,” Cyberabad Police said in a statement. They also warned that those found responsible would be punished under relevant legal provisions.
Support for rescued children
Meanwhile, police said they would provide rescue, protection and counselling support to the affected children. They will coordinate these efforts with child welfare and protection authorities.
Finally, police urged the public not to encourage child begging. They also asked citizens to report such incidents to the nearest police station or the Child Helpline (1098).
The action was announced by Srujana Karnam, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Women and Child Safety Wing, Cyberabad.
