The investigation into the human trafficking case involving a Non-Government organisation (NGO), South Bihar Welfare Society for Tribals, in the underdeveloped Simdega district is moving at a snail’s pace. Despite recommendations of an inquiry by the Crime Investigation Department (CID), the case is yet to make any headway and there has been no official report compiled so far to verify the accusations of trafficking labeled against two people associated with the NGO.
The matter dates back to 2012 when the first complaint was registered however two years later the work is still in progress with the CID set to send a team to Simdega later this week to examine the case. However, the CID’s team will head to the district without any report from the Ranchi and Simdega police.
“We have summoned the NGO. We will send a team to Simdega in this week and we hope to complete the investigation in a month’s time,” said ADG-CID, SN Pradhan.
The NGO operating at local level has been accused of trafficking girls from Simdega showing the fear of naxalism. The matter was recently conveyed to Ministry of Home Affairs after which Jharkhand CID was asked to investigate the matter. The CID on its part had instructed Ranchi and Simdega police to submit reports to the department.
Two persons-Anima Ba and Santosh Kumar alias Ajay Tiwari-were named in the complaint letter written by Teopil Ekka of ThethaitangarBlock in Simdega. The two accused are said to be absconding which has stalled the process of investigation by Simdega police. The district police have not submitted its report as asked by the CID. Accused Anima Ba is said to be an active social worker since 1995.
“We could not interrogate them as they are absconding,” said Simdega SP, Asim Vikrant Minz. But the investigations appears to be heading towards nowhere as the State Commission of Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) also appears to be confused about the evidences it has found in its visit to the affected district. The progress at commission’s end is far from satisfactory and too little to present a clear picture of the entire case.
“We have collected all documents and we are examining them. As of now I can only say that the commission is doing its job,” said member of SCPCR, Sanjay Kumar Mishra. According to sources agencies are getting conflicting evidences into the case which sometimes is being given the colour of exploitation of people by denial of wage entitled for working as domestic help in other parts of the country or a case of misrepresentation of facts at the complainant’s end.
“It was found that a majority of the victims were in the range of 16 to 17 years and they were not paid wages. The case also involves some known faces that are politically connected,” said a source. The CID had also asked the Ranchi Police to submit a report on the functioning of NGO which has its office in Doranda.