GUWAHATI: A woman and her four-month-old infant were rescued on July 9, in a joint operation by the Child and Gender Protection Desk (CGPD) of Fancy Bazar Outpost and the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Kamrup (Metro), following a social media alert about the duo allegedly begging near the Foot Over Bridge at Fancy Bazar.
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The rescue operation was carried out in coordination with Child Helpline. Following the rescue, the mother and her infant daughter were handed over to Child Helpline for care, protection and counselling as per legal provisions. They were later shifted to the State Home for Women at Jalukbari, where they will remain until further decisions are taken by the concerned authorities regarding their rehabilitation.
Speaking with GPlus, Siddarth Shashi Sharma, Project Coordinator of Child Helpline at the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Kamrup (Metro), said the mother and child were rescued on Thursday and safely shifted to the State Home for Women. He added that the concerned departments will decide the next course of action for their care and rehabilitation.
Sharma said tracing the duo was difficult as they frequently changed locations. "There was a lot of confusion while finding them because they sometimes stayed near Sukreswar Temple and at other times near the Guwahati Railway Station. Yesterday, we received information from people near Sukreswar Temple, following which the police and DCPU team reached the spot and rescued them," he said.
The rescue follows a social media post shared on July 2 that highlighted the condition of the mother and infant, prompting public concern and intervention by the authorities.
Speaking with GPlus, Dhritismita Das, who had shared the post, said she was relieved to learn that the duo had been rescued. "I am very happy to know that they have been rescued. Even till last Saturday, I was in touch with the police officials, and they told me the rescue team was working to trace them. Hearing the news today makes me feel relieved that both the mother and child are safe. There are many such cases across Guwahati, and if the concerned departments continue taking such steps, it will help many more people in need," she said.