1 week ago
19 Children Rescued as Arunachal Trafficking Network Faces Investigation
Police in Arunachal Pradesh rescued 19 children who were allegedly connected to a trafficking network.
Three people were arrested in the case.
The youngest rescued child is about three years old, and most are younger than eight.
The children were found in several places across the state.
Police said money was paid for some children.
Some children were allegedly made to work in homes or hotels.
An investigation team is now studying what happened.
Activists said vulnerable families may have been targeted by middlemen.
Officials also reported eight trafficking cases involving 66 victims in the state during 2024.
Police rescued 19 children from multiple locations across Arunachal Pradesh and arrested three alleged trafficking suspects.
The rescued children include a three-year-old, while most are under eight years old.
Investigators found reported payments of about Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 for some children.
Some rescued children were allegedly made to work as domestic helpers or in hotels.
A Special Investigation Team is investigating the case after a complaint from the Namsai Child Welfare Committee.
- Who
- Police rescued 19 children and arrested Gumnya Kochung, Marte Ete and Neha Gerory in connection with the alleged network.
- What
- A suspected child trafficking network was uncovered, with some children allegedly sent to work as domestic helpers or in hotels.
- Where
- The children were rescued from Mechuka, Aalo, Pasighat, Naharlagun, Itanagar and Longding in Arunachal Pradesh.
- When
- The case was registered on August 17; the police statement was made on Tuesday, and the investigation is ongoing.
- Why
- Police launched the operation after a complaint by the Namsai Child Welfare Committee; activists said traffickers targeted economically vulnerable families to meet demand for workers.
Key facts
- Children rescued
- 19
- Youngest child
- Approximately 3 years old
- Arrests
- 3
- Reported payments
- About Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 per child in some cases
- Investigation body
- Special Investigation Team
- 2024 trafficking cases
- Arunachal Pradesh recorded 8 cases involving 66 identified victims, according to the NCRB Crime in India 2024 report
- 2024 rescues and arrests
- 38 victims were rescued and 52 people were arrested in trafficking-related cases; no convictions were reported
Quotes
Sangey Thinley
Superintendent of Police overseeing the Arunachal Pradesh investigation
“We have rescued 19 children across different places of Arunachal Pradesh. Three persons were arrested in connection with child trafficking. We are investigating the case.”
NDTV
Child rescue and rehabilitation activist
Activist involved in child rescue and rehabilitation
“There is a shortage of manpower in Arunachal Pradesh and there is demand for workers in hotels, restaurants and as domestic help. The middlemen work on behalf of the trafficking network. They are well connected and know the demand. They target economically vulnerable families and take away their children for work in different parts of Arunachal Pradesh. In many cases, missing complaints are filed and the children do not return home.”
NDTV
Sources
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