Minor girl handed over to CWC following child labour allegations

Minor girl handed over to CWC following child labour allegations

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 17, 2011: Acting on a complaint, the labour department, the child development project office (CDPO), and the Pandeshwar police raided the house of Mansoor Hussain on Old Kent Road and took charge of a 12-year-old girl called Minaz on November 17, Thursday. 

Someone had complained that Hussain employs as many as 5 – 6 children in his house, but the officials found only one girl.

The raid, which commenced at 10:30 a.m., lasted for nearly 3 hours. Initially, the residents of the house refused to open the door, but when the officials insisted, they opened the door. 

CDPO officer Gangadhar told reporters that they had taken charge of a 12-year-old girl called Minaz and will send her for a medical test after which she will be handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). 

The family, however, told a different story. They said that the girl was a guest at their house and that her brother from Bergur in Tarikere in Chikmagalur had arrived at their house at Ramadan begging for alms. Since he met with an accident, the family helped him and he returned home when he got better. But he had returned with his sister 10 days back because he was in need of medical treatment and Minaz was staying with them as their guest while her brother was taking treatment at a hospital, they said. 

Interestingly, the girl’s story matches the tale told by the family. She said that her brother had indeed met with an accident and that he had brought her to Mangalore. She also said that she is a Std VI student in Tarikere Government School. 

Minaz will be in the care of the CWC till her case is thoroughly investigated.