Operation Smile-XII rescues 105 children in Khammam

As part of Operation Smile-XII, Khammam police rescued 105 children during a month-long drive to curb child labour and trace missing children. The operation led to the registration of 29 FIRs and reunification of several children with their families

Khammam: Commissioner of Police Sunil Dutt informed that 105 children were rescued through Operation Smile-XII, a month-long operation conducted across the district with the aim of eradicating child labour and identifying missing children.

He also stated that 29 FIRs were registered during the raids conducted from January 1 to 31, 2026. The operation was supervised by nodal officer Additional DCP (Admin) Ramanujam, ACP Samba Raju, and Anti-Human Trafficking Unit Inspector Srinivas.

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Police, women development and child welfare, labour, education and health departments, Child Protection Unit, and NGO officials participated in the operation. Areas where child labour and children in distress were prevalent were identified as black spots, and the children were rescued from those locations.

Special attention was given to railway stations, bus stations, traffic junctions, mechanic shops, brick kilns, tea stalls, and other shops. The use of the Child Track portal and the Darpan facial recognition technology in Operation Smile yielded positive results, the CP said.

Many missing children were identified with the help of the Darpan application and handed over to their parents. Details of children from other States were collected, and they were reunited with their parents.

The police were keeping a close watch on those involved in the illegal trafficking of children. Five-member teams, consisting of one sub-inspector, two assistant sub-inspectors and two constables, including a female officer, conducted inspections in each division, the CP added. He presented certificates of appreciation to the officers who made Operation Smile a success.