Five minor children, including two girls, who hail from Malda district were rescued from a Calcutta-bound train at Katwa railway station in East Burdwan district on Thursday.

Police sources said the children — aged between 12 and 14 years — had been missing since Wednesday evening. All of them are residents of Kutubganj village in Malda.

The police launched a search following a complaint filed by their parents. Some villagers informed the cops that the children were seen heading towards Samsi, a railway station in the district. Soon, the police alerted the GRP and the RPF across all railway stations.

Eventually, the RPF rescued the children from the Calcutta-bound Katihar Express as it reached Katwa.

The police then contacted their guardians and arranged for their journey to Katwa.

“Preliminary information indicates that the kids had gone on their own will. A probe is on,” said a police officer.