227 children reunited with parents in Thane

As many as 227 children were reunited with their parents last month under the 'Muskan' programme of Thane Police.

The children were traced from remand homes, streets, and also from among those engaged in child labour, Thane Police Commissionerate's Child Protection Unit chief, Inspector Madan Ballal, said today.

Of them, eight were originally reported missing, 35 had been kidnapped, 41 abandoned, 35 engaged as child labourers, 44 were found begging and six admitted to the Child Welfare Centre at Bhiwandi town in Thane, he said.

Of the 44 children found begging, 23 were girls, he said.

Between July 2014 and June 2015, prior to the start of the Muskan campaign, the Thane Police had recorded as many as 154 cases of children either missing or kidnapped, including 55 girls, Ballal said.

During the same period, 48 child labourers, including 21 girls, were rescued, he added.