Eight boys, said to be aged between 14 and 16 years, were today rescued from gold smithies in the city.

Based on a tip off, Anti-Human Trafficking Wing of the City Police, District Child Protection Officer and ChildLine, carried out joint operations in various gold smithies for nearly five hours in the morning, police said.

During the raid, the officials rescued eight boys, hailing from West Bengal and employed for a measly pay to assist the owners in jewellery manufacturing.

The boys will be taken to Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital tomorrow to ascertain their age and action will be initiated against the employers, after obtaining the age certificates, police said.

After producing them before the Child Welfare Committee, all were sent to Don Bosco Anbu Illam, a shelter home in the city.