On a sweltering summer day at Gonda Railway Station, an eerie silence crept over platform number 2. Amidst the bustling passengers and distant train whistles, railway police noticed a group of children huddled together, their faces marked with fear and uncertainty. Their behaviour seemed odd, and when officers approached them for questioning, their hesitance raised suspicions. Something was wrong.
Without wasting a moment, the officers took the children into their protection and alerted Deshraj Singh, state coordinator of Bachpan Bachao Andolan. The gravity of the situation demanded swift action, and soon the case reached Aparajita Samajik Samiti, where director Kiran Bains was leading the Access to Justice programme.
Kiran and her dedicated team arrived at the scene, their hearts heavy yet determined. Instead of interrogating the children, they chose a compassionate approach—gentle conversation and reassurance. Slowly, the fear in the children’s eyes started to fade. As their stories emerged, it became clear that they had been caught in the web of trafficking, vulnerable and afraid.
The next step was crucial. The children were immediately placed under the care of Childline Gonda, ensuring their safety while legal procedures unfolded. By 29 July 2024, the Childline presented them before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which took decisive action to guarantee their wellbeing. Orders were passed to reunite them with their families, and within days every rescued child was safely back home.
Justice, however, had to be served. Under CWC’s directive, the Childline took charge of follow-ups to monitor the children’s safety. Meanwhile, authorities were urged to investigate Motihari Bihar based organisation Smart Value, suspected to the trafficking ring.
Driven by the pursuit of justice, Aparajita and Bachpan Bachao Andolan formally appealed to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), urging them to take legal action. Their relentless efforts bore fruit—on 31 July 2024, the police registered an FIR (Number 0001) under Section 143(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita 2023.
Throughout this ordeal, Kiran Bains stood unwavering, counselling frightened children, ensuring legal intervention and personally overseeing every step until justice was secured. She refused to rest until every child found safety, and when the case was finally registered, only then did she take a breath of relief.
Aparajita’s battle was not just about rescuing children; it was about restoring innocence, ensuring accountability and proving that vigilance and compassion can rewrite destinies. Every child deserves protection. Every childhood deserves to be safe.