Bhubaneswar, August 20:Odisha Police has intensified“Operation Anweshan”, a special inter-State drive aimed at tracing children from Odisha who are missing, vulnerable, exploited, or living in institutional care in other parts of the country.

The initiative focuses on strengthening coordination between Odisha and other States while carrying out systematic field-level efforts for the identification, tracing, verification, restoration and rehabilitation of children, said Dr. Satyajit Naik, IGP, Central Range, Cuttack.

The special drive is being conducted under the direction of Odisha DGP Vinaytosh Mishra, while Dr. Naik will supervise and closely monitor its implementation. The IGP will regularly review the progress of the operation, assess field-level activities and outcomes, and facilitate coordination with district police units and authorities in the States where the search operations are being conducted.

As part of the first phase of Operation Anweshan, two dedicated teams from the Central Range will undertake field operations in New Delhi and Rajasthan between August 28 and September 8, 2026. The teams will work in coordination with the Crime Against Women and Children Wing of Odisha Police, as well as police, child protection and administrative authorities in the destination States.

For the New Delhi operation, Team A, headed by a DSP-rank officer, includes police personnel from Kendrapara, Cuttack, Khordha and Nayagarh districts. Team B, also led by a DSP-rank officer, will operate in Rajasthan and comprises personnel from Jajpur, Nayagarh, Khordha and the Integrated Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (IAHTU), Puri.

Members of both teams have been briefed on the objectives, operational procedures, responsibilities and expected outcomes of the special drive.

During the field operations, the teams will verify Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in coordination with District Child Protection Officers (DCPOs), Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) and other competent authorities. Relevant records will be examined to identify children from Odisha and determine their present status and circumstances.

The teams will also use information available through the Mission Vatsalya Portal to identify and verify children from Odisha who may be residing in institutional care outside the State. Necessary follow-up action will be taken for their safe restoration to their families or appropriate rehabilitation in accordance with established procedures and applicable laws.

As part of the community outreach component, the police teams will coordinate with Odia associations and community representatives in New Delhi and Rajasthan to gather information and actionable leads regarding missing or vulnerable children from Odisha.

The operation will also focus on labour sites and colonies, where teams will work with Labour Officers, DCPOs, IAHTU personnel and other agencies to identify children engaged in vulnerable or prohibited forms of labour or those at risk of exploitation, trafficking and abuse.

A structured mechanism has been put in place for the daily collection and compilation of information generated during the drive. Team leaders will coordinate with the CAW and CW Wing for follow-up action and ensure that actionable intelligence is promptly shared with the concerned authorities.

Dr. Naik will closely monitor the activities of both teams throughout the operation. Regular reviews will assess the number of children traced, verification status, follow-up action and coordination with relevant agencies. Additional directions and inter-State coordination will be facilitated wherever necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the drive.

All district police units under the Central Range have been directed to extend full support to the teams and provide relevant details of missing-child cases, background information and other actionable inputs that could assist in tracing children.

The primary objective of Operation Anweshan is to strengthen coordinated efforts to trace children from Odisha who are missing, vulnerable, exploited or otherwise in need of care and protection outside the State. The initiative also aims to improve information-sharing mechanisms and reinforce inter-State police coordination for timely intervention in cases involving vulnerable children.

According to Odisha Police, the operation reflects its commitment to child protection, prevention of trafficking and safeguarding the rights, safety and dignity of children.

Under the direction of DGP Vinaytosh Mishra and the supervision of IGP Dr. Satyajit Naik, focused efforts are being undertaken to pursue every possible lead and ensure that children traced during the operation receive appropriate protection, assistance, restoration or rehabilitation.

Odisha Police has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that no vulnerable child from the State remains untraced and that every possible effort is made for their safe restoration and rehabilitation in accordance with the law.