Uttarakhand police directed its anti-human trafficking unit personnel to carry out extensive checking of the vehicles transporting the rescued persons from the relief camps at safer locations. The teams have been asked to pay special attention near the exit and entry points.
Police issued instruction inputs from its various agencies that the human trafficking gangs might traffic the young children, who lost their parents and family members in the disaster, taking advantage of the catastrophic situation. The trafficking gang members, pretending to be parents, may take away the children. The anti-human trafficking units' personnel have been asked to carry out thorough checking of the buses.
They will record the name of each children, young girls and women, being transported from the relief camps to the different stations in Haridwar and Dehradun.The personnel have been asked to be in proper uniform. They have been directed that in case of any doubt, they should ensure proper action against the suspicious persons. The personnel would also be on duty at entry and exit point of the State.The personnel would submit the report to the police disaster relief control room in-charge Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Pradeep Kumar Rai.
Rai said, "No laxity in the action will be tolerated. The anti-human trafficking personnel team members should carry out through checking of the buses and other vehicles transporting the rescued persons from disaster-hit districts to Dehradun and Haridwar."
A team has also been deployed in Rishikesh as more than 800 persons are being transported to the town in vehicles. The anti-human trafficking teams have also been asked to keep an eye at private bus stands and tempo stands whereon passengers from various places gather.
There are four anti-human trafficking units in the State. They are based at different locations, including one in Haridwar, Haldwani, Banbasa, and Kotdwar. The personnel posted in the units would carry out search and inspection. They would also pay attention at Kichcha, Haldwani.
Not in action despite order!
Even after the instructions by the officials, the anti-human trafficking unit persons were not seen at the ISBT and Rishikesh bus stations till noon on Friday. When contacted, a senior official said that they would look into the matter and ensure that the anti-human trafficking units' personnel swung into action and carry out checking of the buses and other vehicles coming from disaster affected areas. Police would ensure safe arrival of the children to their native places.