Police launches 'Operation Smile-V' programme for missing children

Telangana Police on Monday launched ‘Operation Smile – V’ at DG conference hall in Hyderabad. The programme will continue for a month and all the departments concerned will work in co-ordination to trace out missing children and connect them with their families. Additional Director General, CID, Govind Singh, Inspector General Law and Order, Women safety, Swati Lakra, Child line and representatives from UNICEF, Deputy Director Health and officers from other departments were part of the programme. Police officers from the entire State including 174 officers, eight Additional SPs, eight Deputy SPs, 19 Inspectors and 90 SIs participated in the programme.

Training was provided to the officers on the procedures to be followed in tracing out missing children, conducting rescue operations for children involved in begging, street children, children involved in hazardous industries, bonded labour and how to relocate them with their parents or family members. Various issues involved in the operations, practical problems, how to tackle were discussed. 

The Facial Recognition Tool ‘Darpan’ developed by the Telangana police was also given to the officers of all units so that children could be traced. From January 2015 to till now four such operations have been conducted and more than 22,000 children were rescued and reconnected with their families. Relevant cases were registered and investigated.