Brahmavar : Total eight girls and four boys found to be engaged in balloons selling and begging at the annual fair of Saligrama in Udupi district.

It is said, the children along with families from Rajasthan engaged in the sale of balloons. The district child protection unit in association with the Udupi district police, convinced their parents not to employ the children in trade or employment and give them education instead. They were sent to the railway station with instructions to go back to their hometown.

About 16 children found to be begging at the fair were stopped from begging and sent with their parents. The department earnestly wishes that children are not engaged in gainful employment or begging, which are crimes. It wants them to get education.

District child protection officer Sadananda Nayak, legal surveillance officer Prabhakar Achar, Kota police sub-inspector Santosh B P, assistant sub-inspector Mukta, town panchayat Saligrama chief officer Arun Kumar, officer of the child protection unit Kapil, social workers Yogeesh, Suraksha and Sandesh, as well as Nityananda Vollakadu and Taranath Mesta of the district Nagarika Seva Samiti were involved with the operation.

Saligrama town panchayat president Sulata Hegde, accompanied the team in the rescue act.