Itanagar, Sep 6 (IANS) In a major breakthrough in the investigation into a suspected child trafficking network, Arunachal Pradesh Police have rescued and traced 34 children from different parts of the state and arrested four suspected women brokers and facilitators, officials said on Sunday.
A police official said that, as part of the ongoing investigation and search operations into suspected child trafficking and illegal placement of children, Namsai district Police have so far traced and rescued a total of 38 persons, comprising 34 children and four adults, from different locations.
The investigation is being conducted in connection with a case registered earlier at Namsai Police Station.
The official said the operation was led by, and the case is being investigated by, Deputy Superintendent of Police Kengo Dirchi under the close supervision of Namsai District Superintendent of Police Sangey Thinley, with close coordination and support from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Namsai, and the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU).
As the investigation progressed and further links emerged, another key facilitator, Rupali Padung, was arrested in connection with the case, taking the total number of adult persons arrested so far to four. Her alleged role, along with the roles of the other three persons arrested in connection with the transportation and placement of the children, is being investigated in accordance with the law.
The investigation is continuing to establish the complete chain of facilitators, the transportation and placement of the victims, financial transactions, electronic evidence and other links connected with the case, the police official said.
According to the official, preliminary investigation indicates that economically vulnerable families were allegedly approached with assurances of better education, care and upbringing for their children. The children were thereafter allegedly procured, transported and placed with different persons at distant locations. In some cases, suspected monetary transactions ranging from approximately Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 per child have emerged, the official said.
He said that the persons with whom the children had allegedly been placed, as well as the concerned parents and guardians, are also being examined as part of the investigation. Their individual roles and the circumstances surrounding the placement of the children are being verified, and necessary legal action is being initiated wherever warranted on the basis of the evidence gathered during the investigation.
The CWC and DCPU in Namsai district have extended necessary coordination and support in relation to the care, protection, counselling, rehabilitation and welfare of the children traced and rescued during the investigation.
Namsai District Police remain committed to identifying the entire network and taking appropriate legal action against every person whose involvement is established during the investigation, while ensuring the safety, dignity and rehabilitation of the victims, the official added.
The identities and personal particulars of the children are being kept confidential in accordance with the law.
–IANS
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