Thu Feb 26 15:35:57 UTC 2026: # Child Welfare Committee Intervenes to Return 21 Children to Bihar
The Story:
On February 26, 2026, the Kozhikode District Child Welfare Committee (CWC) successfully coordinated the return of 21 children, aged 8 to 14, to their home state of Bihar. The children, from Kishanganj district, were intercepted at Palakkad railway station after arriving on the Vivek Express. They were accompanied by two adults who could not provide valid identification for the minors.
The CWC placed the children in a registered children’s home where they received counselling and care. Following a rigorous cross-border administrative effort involving child protection officials from both Kozhikode and Kishanganj, the children were reunited with their families after relatives traveled to Kerala and presented verified documentation.
Key Points:
- 21 children from Kishanganj, Bihar, were intercepted at Palakkad railway station.
- The children, aged 8 to 14, were travelling with two adults who lacked proper identification.
- The Kozhikode CWC provided care and counselling to the children.
- Child protection officials in both Kozhikode and Kishanganj collaborated to verify the children’s backgrounds.
- Relatives travelled from Bihar to Kerala to present documentation, leading to the children’s safe return.
- The operation was overseen by a committee led by chairperson Shiji A. Rahman, along with members Ashraf Kavil, Noorjahan, K. B. Smitha, and V. B. Akhil.
Key Takeaways:
- The incident highlights the ongoing vulnerability of children to undocumented travel and potential exploitation.
- The successful intervention demonstrates the effectiveness of inter-state cooperation between child welfare agencies.
- Rigorous verification processes are crucial in ensuring the safe return of children to their families.
- The quick action of the CWC prevented what could have been a case of undocumented child displacement.
First Piper 