Karnataka Rescues 800 Child Laborers in Sweeping Two-Hour Raid

In a stunning display of coordinated action, Karnataka police and labor officials swept through the state Saturday morning, rescuing 800 child laborers in a mere two hours. The operation, which targeted markets, workshops, and eateries, revealed the disturbing scale of underage employment—particularly in Bengaluru, where 503 children were freed from exploitation.

The Operation Unfolds

The raids began precisely at 10 a.m., with teams fanning out across 962 police stations simultaneously. They moved through construction sites, garages, welding shops, and small industrial establishments—places where children often toil hidden from public view. By noon, the scale of the problem became painfully clear.

Bengaluru’s numbers were particularly alarming: 503 children found working across 5,897 inspected premises. Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh didn’t mince words about why these children were targeted by employers: “They can be paid far less than adults.”

Beyond the Capital

While Bengaluru dominated the rescue numbers, other districts revealed their own patterns. Vijayapura reported 72 rescues—the second-highest tally—after inspecting 1,156 locations. Tumakuru freed 33 children from 660 premises. Yet in a dozen districts including Mysuru, Mandya, and Shivamogga, not a single child laborer was found during the operation.

The children came from across India and beyond: Karnataka, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, and even Nepal. Their stories now pass to the Child Welfare Committee, which begins the delicate work of rehabilitation.

“The rescue operation was categorised under hazardous and non-hazardous occupations. In cases involving hazardous employment, FIRs have been registered against the employers. Employers found engaging children in non-hazardous work have been issued notices.”

Catalyst for Action

This sweeping operation didn’t emerge from nowhere. It came weeks after Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s surprise visit to the APMC Yard in Yeshwantpur, where officials discovered 19 children working on the premises. That encounter sparked the order for a statewide crackdown—one that ultimately reached nearly 17,000 locations.

Authorities registered 18 cases under the Child and Adolescent Labour Act and Juvenile Justice Act, drawing clear lines between hazardous and non-hazardous cases. Where children faced danger, employers faced FIRs. Where the work was merely illegal, they received notices. The message, finally, is clear: Karnataka’s children are not for sale.