The kingpin of an international human trafficking racket that was spread across India as well as in Nepal, Oman and Kuwait was arrested on Wednesday, along with his accomplice, and 26 girls have been rescued.
The accused, Shabin Shah, and his associate Bidya lama were arrested from Roopnagar and Patiala House Courts respectively, said Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, Ravindra Yadav.
During interrogation, it emerged that Shah was the mastermind of the racket that was running since 2011 and he had rented properties in Mahipalpur and Roopnagar where women were kept in confinement, said the officer.
Delhi was the hub as well as the transit point from where girls were sold and trafficked to Gulf countries, said the officer. “He claims to have sent around 1,500 women belonging to India and Nepal to Gulf countries illegally till now. He has a number of agents, who are active in Nepal, Sri lanka, Oman, Kuwait, Dubai and India,” said Yadav.
After reaching Colombo, the women were sent to Gulf countries through employment visa, said the officer, adding that the agents used to charge close to Rs60,000 per woman for travelling to Delhi, visa for Sri lanka, Gulf countries and air tickets for Colombo and Dubai.
Two Nepalese women filed a complaint with the Crime Branch alleging that that they were brought to New Delhi by one Ramu Choudhary and Shah on the pretext of providing jobs in Gulf countries, said the officer, adding they were kept in confinement in Mahipalpur area for more than 10 days and their passports were also seized by the accused.
They managed to escape on September 1 and reached the Nepal Embassy that directed them to the Delhi Police. After a team was formed under the overall supervision of Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) KK Vyas, a raid was conducted and 20 women were rescued, said Yadav.
Bidya lama, who ran the shelter home in Mahipalpur and kept women in confinement, was arrested from Patiala House Courts, said the officer.
Bidya then gave clues about Shah, the alleged kingpin of the racket and he was arrested on September 4 from his house in Roop Nagar. Two passports belonging to victims and five mobile phones were recovered. Three Nepalese women and one Indian woman was rescued from his house, added the officer.
After that, these women were provided jobs as house maids or work in shopping malls, restaurants, hospitals etc. After providing job, the agents used to take Rs 5,000 per month as commission. The agents based in Gulf countries arranged jobs and employment visa for these women and they used to charge commission for getting these women employment.
The commission was further distributed to Delhi-based agents. There is a complete chain and understanding between agents based in Nepal, Delhi, Sri lanka and Gulf countries.
The employment visa of Sri lanka and Gulf countries was obtained online by agents based in Gulf countries, said the officer.
The Nepal police has also rescued few girls in Kathmandu and a case has been registered there against Shah.