Now Reading: 19 children rescued from traffickers in Arunachal, three arrested
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19 children rescued from traffickers in Arunachal, three arrested
Police in Arunachal Pradesh have rescued 19 children, most under eight years old, from traffickers over the past 48 hours. Three women have been arrested for allegedly procuring the children from poor…
Police in Arunachal Pradesh have rescued 19 children, most under eight years old, from traffickers over the past 48 hours. Three women have been arrested for allegedly procuring the children from poor families and engaging them as domestic help or child labour across the state. The youngest child was just three years old.
The rescue operation was carried out in Namsai district and locations including Mechuka, Aalo, Pasighat, Naharlagun, Itanagar and Longding. Police acted on a complaint from the Child Welfare Committee, Namsai, lodged on August 17, and formed a Special Investigation Team. The arrested women, Gumnya Kochung, Marta Ete and Neha Gerory, acted as brokers for a commission.
Investigation revealed that economically vulnerable parents were approached with promises of better education and care, and received between Rs 10,000 and Rs 50,000 for handing over their children. Police said poverty was a major driver. They are continuing searches for more victims and have urged parents who gave away children through intermediaries to come forward.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Arunachal Pradesh has long been a source and transit point for child trafficking, driven by poverty and difficult terrain. The state's Child Welfare Committee, established under the Juvenile Justice Act of 2015, is mandated to rescue and rehabilitate trafficked children. The youngest victim being only three years old matches patterns seen in similar cases across the Northeast, where agents target tribal families with cash offers. The next step is for the SIT to trace the placement network and ensure the children are reunited with families or placed in institutional care. The court will likely hear the remand of the accused within days.
Source: deccanherald.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
