In a joint operation, the South Indian Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM) and the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) raided the premises and rescued the boys - Sunil (10), Muthu (11), Prasanna (9), Prasad (12), Krishna (9), Shivu (10), Hanumathu (10), Anil (12) all from Bijapur, Anand (8) and Venkatesh (12) from Bangalore.
Prakash Kariyappa from SICHREM told Deccan Herald that the boys were lured by an NGO in Bijapur, promising them education. They landed at the old age home. Though they went to a nearby school, they were forced to work at odd hours and treated badly.
Apart from living in unhygienic condition, the boys were denied medical attention. A few of them had fractured their hands but were not treated.
Till they are formally handed over to the Child Welfare Committee, the boys would be at Boscoa, a city-based organisation, Prakash added.
Published 27 June 2009, 20:01 IST