Odisha police trace 64 missing children in Andhra Pradesh shelter homes

In a significant breakthrough, the Odisha Police have located 64 children who had gone missing and were found to be residing in shelter homes across Andhra Pradesh. The recovery comes under 'Operation Anweshan', a dedicated operation launched to track down the missing minors. According to a Deputy Superintendent of Police overseeing the operation, the traced children represent approximately 43 percent of the total 149 missing children being searched for under the initiative.

The operation has already resulted in the successful repatriation of five children back to Odisha, marking the first phase of efforts to reunite the minors with their families. The police have been coordinating with shelter home authorities in Andhra Pradesh to identify and safely retrieve the children.

The discovery has raised concerns about child trafficking networks and the movement of minors across state borders. Authorities have intensified their efforts to ensure the remaining missing children are also traced and returned to their families. The operation underscores the need for enhanced inter-state coordination in child protection and welfare initiatives across the region.