In a remarkable display of collaboration and commitment to child welfare, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the Uttar Pradesh Police joined to conduct a significant rescue operation at the International Agro Food slaughterhouse owned by Yasin Qureshi. This slaughterhouse is located in the Mussoorie area of Ghaziabad district, Uttar Pradesh.
Acting on the instructions of the UP Police, the operation resulted in the rescue of 57 minors who were being forced to participate in animal slaughter activities at the facility. Among the rescued were 31 girls and 26 boys, including individuals with disabilities. This ongoing operation underscores the severity of the situation and highlights the determination of the authorities to combat child exploitation and abuse.
The rescued minors are now under the care and protection of the relevant authorities.
The action was initiated following a complaint received by Mission Mukti, emphasising the critical role of vigilant citizens and organisations in bringing attention to instances of child exploitation and mobilising authorities to intervene.
Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson of the NCPCR, shared on X, “In a joint raid conducted with @NCPCR_ on the instructions of @Uppolice at the International Agro Food slaughterhouse of Yasin Qureshi in the Mussoorie area of Ghaziabad district in Uttar Pradesh, 57 minors (31 girls and 26 boys, including handicapped people) have been rescued; the operation is still on. All of them were being made to slaughter animals there.”
आज उत्तरप्रदेश के ग़ाज़ियाबाद ज़िले के मसूरी इलाक़े में याशीन कुरेशी के इंटरनेशनल एग्रो फ़ूड के पशु क़त्लखाने पर @NCPCR_ के निर्देश पर @Uppolice के साथ की गयी संयुक्त छापामार कार्यवाही में 57 नाबालिगों (31 लड़कियाँ व 26 लड़कों इनमें दिव्यांग भी शामिल हैं।) को रेस्क्यू किया गया है… pic.twitter.com/0pmkT2dHgg
— प्रियंक कानूनगो Priyank Kanoongo (मोदी का परिवार) (@KanoongoPriyank) May 29, 2024
Kanoongo further stated, “The number may change once other processes including verification of age of children are completed. Action has been taken on the complaint of Mission Mukti.”
Speaking with Organiser on May 29, Kanoongo said, they acted on a complaint by Mission Mukti and rescued the children. Out of the 57 rescued, as many as three belong to the Hindu community.
He added, “All the children have been currently shifted to the shelter home, some of them are from Bengal, Bihar and other parts of Bharat. They were forced to work in inhumane conditions at the slaughterhouse. The commission and the government will make sure to enrol the kids in school, in case they are orphans and hand them over to their parents if not.”
He could not share the exact number as the matter is still under investigation.
Efforts are underway to provide the rescued minors with the necessary support, including medical assistance, counselling, and rehabilitation services. Investigations into the operations of the slaughterhouse and those responsible for exploiting minors are expected to be conducted to ensure accountability and prevent future occurrences of such egregious violations.
ADCP Crime Sacchidanand told media, “The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in New Delhi received a complaint that 40 children from West Bengal and Bihar were being illegally employed in a slaughterhouse in Ghaziabad. Taking action, a team was formed by the Ghaziabad Commissioner, and today, with all the teams, a rescue operation was carried out at the Agro International Food slaughterhouse in Dasna Masuri, rescuing 57 children.”
