Circus kids rescued by DCPU Nongpoh

SHILLONG, JULY 30: Six children were rescue by the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU)   team in Ri Bhoi district led by the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) along with the police while they were performing a mini circus at Nongpoh. The rescue was undertaken as it contravened the Juvenile Justice Act Rule 78.

Meghalaya social welfare director HM Shangpliang informed the rescued was undertaken after the DCPU received information about the children performing acts that were dangerous.

On July 9, the DCPO received a phone call informing of a mini circus where the three children were performing at Nongpoh proper. On reaching the circus spot, the DCPO and social worker found that the children were performing dangerous acts.

While one of the boys was piercing his eye with a needle, another child was walking on stilts; a little boy of around 6 years was collecting money from the public who had gathered around. The DCPO immediately informed the Nongpoh police station.

After the police reached the spot a lady who identified herself as Soneveer claimed she was the mother of these children and also informed that she has permission to perform the circus. However with the assistance from the police, the children were taken to the police station.

At the police station the team learned that there is another group of children consisting of 2 boys and 1 girl performing near Bethany Hospital, Nongpoh. The police team went to the spot rescued them and all of them to the police station.

The only document produced at the police station was a copy of the Voter Card of Soneveer and permission letters from different places. The documents produced later (by the woman who claimed to be the mother) showed applications for permission to perform circus at various places like Gangtok, Darjeeling, Bhutan, Nepal, etc.

However, all the documents were found invalid since they were from 2014. There were no legal papers found except for the copy of the Voter Card of the lady. The DCPO immediately informed the CWC about the children and arrangements were made to accommodate the children at Government Children’s Home Boys and Girls, while the woman was taken to Missionaries of Charity, Nongpoh.

On July 10, one Jitesh Kumar, who claimed to be an elder brother of some of the children, produced copies of his Aadhar card, headman certificate from Phaphund (UP), the various permission letters they received from places where they have performed and a copy of a Post Office Savings Account passbook of one Javar Singh (who claimed to the husband of Soneveer). Post questioning, the team learned that there are around 8 such groups who intended to join this group.

Other groups might be scattered in West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam. The group originally hails from Uttar Pradesh, however, since they move around performing circus, they have been staying in Nepal for the last 12 years, but the aftermath of the earthquake forced them to leave Nepal and approach this side of the country to earn their livelihood.

The social welfare department held a meeting recently, comprising of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Chairperson, Member Secretary, the members of the CWC and decided that the DCPU team make necessary arrangement to escort the children back to Phaphund, Uttar Pradesh.- By Our Reporter