A suspected gang involved in compelling children and others for begging in different localities of the city to earn money was busted and two people were arrested while 17 children rescued, police informed here on Friday.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Mini Joseph said based on a tip off, a raid was conducted on a house in Vatva area on Thursday night. Five boys and 12 girls were rescued from there. A woman identified as Anandi Salat and her male accomplice Sampat were nabbed from the spot.
They used to beat up and torture children for going out and beg at public places, the ACP said.
The culprits also used to allegedly put chilly powder in the eyes of those children who refused to do so, she said.
The rescued children have been handed over to the child welfare officer. They will also undergo DNA tests to ascertain whether the claim of the arrested lady that they were from her family was true or not, the ACP added.
