Taking note of the rising cases of forced labour and commercial sexual exploitation of women and children, the District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) has written to the Gurugram police department asking it to set up a dedicated anti-human trafficking unit to probe trafficking cases and coordinate investigation into trafficking networks operating across State and beyond India.
Sources claimed that cases related to ‘Immoral Trafficking’, trafficking of children and women will be investigated by the anti-human trafficking unit. The police station where the FIR is registered will hand over such cases to the unit within 24hours.
It is pertinent to mention that The Ministry of Home Affairs has mandated to the State Governments to establish an Anti Trafficking Cell to deal with matters relating to law enforcement response on Trafficking in human beings.
As per the guidelines of the Central Government, the State government has to set up Protection Homes, to provide shelter, food, counselling, and medical services to victims. Further, the state government will maintain Rehabilitation Homes in each district, to provide long-term rehabilitation to the victims.
“Human trafficking is a multi-dimensional problem. Most of the victims are lured with promises of jobs, better career prospects and marriage. Some are inducted forcibly through abduction, poverty and deprivation. Once the human trafficking unit will be set up it will help stop the traffic of girls, women and children,” said Narender Singh, Chief Judicial Magistrate.
For more coordination and synergy among various agencies including the police forces, commissions like the National Commission for Women (NCW), National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the state law enforcing agencies to deal with the menace,” Singh said.
“Despite organized gangs of traffickers are involved in cross border trafficking with Bangladesh and Nepal, there are hardly any cases of successful investigation and prosecution which can create deterrence and fear of law in the minds of the criminals,” a senior police officer, requesting anonymity said.
“To curb human trafficking the placement agencies that provide domestic help and other labour should be registered. They should maintain proper records. Time to time an awareness campaign and rescue activities should be done to stop human trafficking,” the CJM said.