A human trafficking network has been busted in Arunachal Pradesh, with the Namsai Police rescuing 19 children from various parts of the state. Three individuals, identified as Gumnya Kochung, Marte Ete, and Neha Gerory, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in facilitating child trafficking.
The children were rescued from different locations, including Mechuka, Aalo, Pasighat, Naharlagun, Itanagar, and Longding. The operation was launched following a complaint filed by the Namsai Child Welfare Committee (CWC) on August 17, which led to the registration of a case at the Namsai police station.
During the investigation, police discovered that monetary transactions ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 per child had taken place in some cases. Namsai Superintendent of Police Sangey Thinley stated that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate the case under his supervision.
Some of the rescued children were reportedly forced to work as domestic helpers or in hotels. A leader of the Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA) noted that vulnerable sections of society, particularly those from tea garden areas of Assam, are often targeted by child traffickers.
The case has taken a serious turn due to the ages of the rescued children, with most being below eight years old. Some children were unable to provide basic information about their families, including their parents’ names, during initial interactions. An activist working in child rescue and rehabilitation alleged that the trafficking network exploits the demand for workers in hotels, restaurants, and households.
The activist further claimed that in several cases, missing complaints were filed after children were taken away, but they did not return home. The police have not disclosed further details of the ongoing investigation.
