In a troubling investigation, police in Ahmedabad have uncovered a child labor racket involving minors forced to work on dangerous construction sites. These children were allegedly employed on flyovers and railway lines intended to connect cities across the Ahmedabad, Anand, and Vadodara districts. The operation highlights serious concerns regarding child exploitation in government infrastructure projects.
their parents allegedly received only Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 a year for their labour While the minors were made to perform strenuous work at dangerous construction sites. On Sunday, police arrested labour contractor Dinesh Kabildar, 47, and cattle herder Bharat Bharwad, 35. Police suspect Kabildar abducted the boy while he was working near the Sola flyover in 2022 and allegedly sold him to Bharwad for Rs 10,000.
Police said at least eight multi-crore public projects across the three districts had engaged the children. The findings have raised questions about contractor compliance and oversight on state-funded infrastructure projects. Acting on intelligence, police traced the boy, who had remained missing for more than four years, to Nava Nadisar village in Godhra taluka of Panchmahal district. At Nava Nadisar, Bharwad and his brother Ranchhod allegedly forced the boy to work as bonded labour alongside two other minors from economically vulnerable families. All three children have since been reunited with their families. Police are now investigating whether other contractors, employers or organised groups were involved in the alleged child-selling and bonded labour network. They are also examining how the children were deployed at public project sites without the required checks.
Another investigating officer confirmed that the children were also pushed into high-risk railway project work between Anand and Vadodara.
Missing Boy Case Sparks Anti-Human Trafficking Investigation
An investigation was initiated after a 14-year-old boy disappeared from Sola on July 13, 2022. His mother filed a complaint, prompting the involvement of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit to take over the case. This action highlights the ongoing concerns related to child safety and human trafficking in the region.