Wed Apr 09 15:23:06 UTC 2025: ## RPF’s “Little Angels” Operation Rescues Hundreds of Children in Karnataka
**Bengaluru, April 9, 2025** – The Railway Protection Force (RPF) in the South Western Railway (SWR) zone has rescued 583 children in the past year (April 2024 – March 2025) as part of its “Operation Nanhe Farishte” (Little Angels) initiative. The operation, launched in 2017, aims to prevent child trafficking and exploitation at railway stations and on trains.
Of the rescued children, 480 were boys and 103 were girls. They were either reunited with their families or placed in institutional care. While no trafficking cases have been registered by the RPF in the SWR zone in the last three years, officials emphasize the operation’s preventative role in safeguarding vulnerable children.
RPF personnel are trained to identify children in distress, and once rescued, children receive food, medical care, and counseling before being placed in safe custody. The RPF works closely with NGOs and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to ensure the children’s well-being. However, the RPF’s legal authority is limited to addressing unlawful possession of railway property; they act as first responders in trafficking cases, handing over children to relevant authorities.
The public is urged to report any suspicious activity involving children at railway stations via helplines 182, 1098, or 100.
First Piper 