Nalanda police on Tuesday rescued 12 minors while they were being taken to New Delhi. One trafficker has also been arrested.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team raided a coach of the Delhi-bound Shramjeevi Express (12391) at Rajgir railway station and rescued 12 children aged between 10 and 12 years while they were being taken to the national capital to work in a bangle manufacturing company.

While eight of the victims were said to be residents of Chatra district in Jharkhand, four belonged to Gaya district.

The children were promised Rs 1,000 every month for working in the bangle manufacturing unit, Nalanda superintendent of police (SP) Nishant Kumar Tiwary said.

Tiwary revealed that one Krishna Manjhi, a resident of Gaya, was arrested for his involvement in human trafficking.

Majhi, 45, worked as a conduit for the gang, which used to supply labourers to the Delhi-based firm, he said.

The victims have been handed over to their parents, he added.

Majhi has been sent to jail. “We are trying to gather information about other members of the gang involved in child trafficking,” the Nalanda SP added.