57 minors rescued from Ghaziabad slaughterhouse, no FIR till now

In a joint operation conducted by the police and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a total of 57 minors were rescued from a slaughterhouse in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. 

The rescue operation took place at the International Agro Foods slaughterhouse in the Mussoorie area of Ghaziabad district.

The NCPCR received a complaint alleging that approximately 40 children from Bihar and West Bengal were being forced to work in inhumane conditions at the slaughterhouse. 

Acting swiftly on this information, the authorities assembled a team to investigate the matter. The complaint was lodged with the Ghaziabad Police Commissionerate, prompting immediate action.

The joint team, comprising officials from the NCPCR, the Mukti Foundation, the labor department, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), senior police officials, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), and the Childline team, conducted a raid at the International Agro Foods slaughterhouse. 

During the operation, they safely rescued 57 minors who were working under harsh conditions.

"Today, in a joint raid conducted with @NCPCR_ ) on the instructions of @Uppolice at the International Agro Food slaughterhouse of Yasin Qureshi in the Mussoorie area of Ghaziabad district in Uttar Pradesh, 57 minors (31 girls and 26 boys, including handicapped people) have been rescued; the operation is still on. All of them were being made to slaughter animals there," NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo said in a post on X.

Among the rescued children, 31 were girls and 26 were boys. These minors hailed from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. 

The rescued children have been sent for medical examination as per the rules, and they will be produced before the Child Welfare Committee for further proceedings.

A senior police officer said that due to the poor economic condition of their families, these children were brought from their respective states to Ghaziabad on the pretext of providing jobs.

"They (the minors) were then put to work at International Agro Foods without their prior knowledge of the nature of the work. The police are searching for the persons who brought these children from their states to initiate action against them," the officer said.

Surprisingly, there has been no FIR filed against the establishment so far. However, police officials have stated that they will register an FIR if they receive any formal complaint. 

The labor department, part of the raid team, intends to move an application before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) to prosecute the meat factory. 

The CJM court will decide the appropriate penalties based on the merit of the case. Typically, fines for child labor violations range from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 per child.

The rescue of these 57 minors highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement of child labor laws and better protection mechanisms. Authorities must continue to crack down on such exploitative practices to ensure the safety and well-being of our young population.