Child labour from Bihar rescued in Mangalore

MANGALORE: Authorities have rescued a 13 year old boy from Bihar engaged as a child labourer from a customs official’s apartment in Gandhinagar near Mannagudda on Monday. He has been identified as Bimalesh Das from Bihar.A team headed by Assistant Labour Commissioner Venkatesh Sindhihatti, representatives from Child Line, Police Department and Education Department raided the apartment and rescued the boy. He said he had been working in the apartment since two months. The apartment was owned by A K Prasad from the customs department.When contacted, District Child Labour Project Director DC Nagesh said the boy seemed not more than 13 years. His age will be confirmed with the help of a radiologist and dentist. “If his age is below 14, then a criminal case will be registered against those who had employed him illegally,” he said.He also informed that when the raid was conducted, Prasad was not present and his wife claimed that the boy was her distant relative.Women and Child Welfare Department Deputy Director A Shakunthala said she would consult the parents and seek a birth certificate and other documents.