Imphal, February 19, 2010: Another 55 Manipuri kids who were rescued from two unlicensed homes in Tamil Nadu, reached Imphal today.

With this, over 70 children of the State have been rescued jointly by Government officials and child activists in less than one month.

Of the rescued 55 children, 52 belong to Zeliangrong tribe.

They were rescued from the illegal home at Kanyakumari, said Bishnupur district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) member K Maharabi, who along with another CWC member and a child activists brought the kids from Tamil Nadu.

The other three including a girl from Chandel district were rescued from Chennai.

Maharabi said that the three children were taken to Chennai last year by a girl from Chandel district.

The 52 boys along with 18 girls hailing from the remote Tamenglong district were taken by one N Paul to Tamil Nadu in May 2006 on false promise of giving free education and accommodation.

Initially they were kept at an unlicensed home at Chennai for a year before being shifted to Kanyakumari, Maharabi said.

The children complained of forced labor and ill-treatment by the home runners for nearly five years during they were deprived of their right to education," he said adding that N Paul is still absconding to evade police arrest.

Though the 52 children have been rescued, the whereabouts of the remaining 18 girls are still not known," he said.

The rescued kids who arrived at Imphal today are being in Takyel observation home under the care of Social Welfare Department officials and child activists.

The kids would be handed over to their parents and guardians tomorrow.

Already Social Welfare Minister Loken has advised parents not to be gullible to false promises of free education outside the State.

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