Charkop Police Rescue 13 Minor Boys from Kandivali West Jewellery Unit

The Charkop Police rescued 13 minor boys who were allegedly employed as labourers at an imitation jewellery manufacturing unit in Kandivali West on August 18 during a special drive against child labour.

Acting on instructions from senior officers, a police team raided Zahra Fashion Era, located at 81-E, First Floor, near Adani Electricity and behind Garuda Petrol Pump in Charkop Industrial Estate, Kandivali West. The raid took place around 2 pm under the guidance of Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Nikalje, where officers found 13 boys aged between 13 and 17 years making imitation jewellery and bangles.

The rescued minors were identified as Sohel Majibul Sahaji (15), Sagar Rajibul Sheikh (14), Abdul Manan Samin Sheikh (16), Kaushik Bachchan Roy (15), Yamin Minu Sa (14), Roni Nabi Ali Sheikh (13), Jahirul Mafizur Sheikh (16), Momin Lutfar Sheikh (17), Raj Anarul Sheikh (16), Jasim Dastagir Sheikh (17), Jahir Nurjahan Bibi Khan (14), Samim Hasanur Sheikh (15), and Habib Hafizul Sheikh (17). All the boys hail from different districts of West Bengal and were residing at the workplace.

Police detained the establishment owner, Ankit Kumar Mahendra Rawal (36), and operator Saminur Motiar Rahman Sheikh (34) for questioning and further legal proceedings. Inquiries revealed that the children were allegedly subjected to strenuous work for nine to 10 hours daily without proper wages.

According to police, the owner and operator could not provide valid documents confirming the ages of the minors, who had no school records and were not enrolled in school.

A case has been registered against Rawal and Sheikh under Sections 75 and 79 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, as well as Sections 3(1) and 3(A) of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.

The rescued children have been placed in the care of authorities while an investigation continues into how they were brought to Mumbai and employed at the facility.