Ahmedabad: What initially appeared to be isolated cases of child begging at traffic signals, temples, malls and hospitals in Ahmedabad has led investigators to uncover what police describe as an organised interstate trafficking network.
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch, working alongside the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), launched a drive to remove child beggars from the city’s streets ahead of preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. During the operation, investigators identified 276 children who were allegedly trafficked to Ahmedabad and forced into begging.
According to police, the investigation has revealed that some village sarpanches in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh allegedly acted as intermediaries, recruiting children from economically vulnerable families and sending them to Gujarat to beg.
Officials said the rescued children will be enrolled in government primary schools and provided food, shelter and rehabilitation. Meanwhile, police are preparing criminal cases against those suspected of exploiting the children for financial gain.
“These are not isolated cases of begging. We believe the children are part of an organised interstate network,” a senior Crime Branch officer said.
According to investigators, most of the children come from impoverished families, with some parents allegedly agreeing to send them to Ahmedabad after being promised an income.
Police allege that the network begins in villages where syndicate members approach sarpanches to identify vulnerable families.
“Begging syndicates in Gujarat allegedly pay village sarpanches in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to procure children. The sarpanches are suspected of passing on a portion of the money to the parents while retaining the rest. Investigators also believe some continued to receive around 20 per cent of the children’s daily earnings,” a senior officer said.
Investigators further claim the syndicates strategically deploy children at locations expected to generate the highest collections.
According to police, religious places are considered the most lucrative, followed by busy traffic intersections, hospitals and shopping malls.
“The children are not sent randomly. Every location is chosen to maximise collections,” another Crime Branch officer said.
Police said they have identified several villages from which the children were allegedly brought and have mapped the locations in Ahmedabad where they were deployed.
“We have identified a number of sarpanches and parents who were allegedly part of the arrangement. We are examining appropriate charges under child trafficking laws,” an officer said.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to determine the full extent of the alleged trafficking network and identify everyone involved.
