Ludhiana, Jan. 28 -- None of the 18 children rescued from begging in July last year under Project Jeevanjyot 2.0 have been found to be victims of child trafficking, officials from the district child protection unit said.

Sixteen of the rescued children have already been returned to the adults accompanying them after their parentage was verified. The remaining two-a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy-remain in the custody of the Child Welfare Committee, as their guardians have refused to take them in. The boy's guardian, his elder brother, is reportedly a drug addict, while the girl's maternal grandmother has also declined custody, according to district child protection officer Rashmi. Six of the children, along with the accompanying ...