Chhattisgarh police busted a human-trafficking racket by rescuing around 70 children, 42 girls and 28 boys, through a targeted operation at Salem, Chennai, Hyderabad and cities of Odisha and arrested five persons involved in the trafficking.
According to Kondagaon police, they got a tip off that a few people are alluring some boys, girls and women from different districts of state with offer of better-paid jobs and are taking them to states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha where they are being kept as bonded labourers.
Kondagaon Superintendent of Police Sujit Kumar said a victim’s mother registered a complaint with City Kotwali police station, Kondagaon stating that in September-October last year, accused Jairam Salam, a resident of Gachumkal Madanar; Umesh Kumar Mandavi, a resident of Gutapara; Jaitram Netam, a resident of Baghjhar and other had taken her daughter and other boys and girls of the area by alluring them to provide them higher wages had taken them to Chennai. Now, they are being kept as bonded labourers and were forced to work even after they fell ill. These accused are again taking more boys and girls for the work.
Based on the complaint, Kondagaon police filed a case (number 335/2019) under section 370, 34 of IPC by registering an FIR and took the action by arresting the accused.
Police said assistance was taken from C.C.R.S Project Salem, Tamil Nadu Councillor to identify the victims. All the victims have been released. Information has been received that around 300 more boys and girls, workers have been kept as bonded workers in different factories in Tamil Nadu, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi. Teams have been sent for their rescue.
Chhattisgarh Director General of Police D.M. Awasthi said under ‘Samvedna’ campaign police would continue their efforts to rescue the trafficked children and women. Similar operations are also being conducted in other districts also.