Updated February 3rd, 2019 at 09:43 IST
136 girls rescued from human trafficking in Manipur
Human trafficking network in Moren in Manipur has been busted by the police. Six traffickers have been arrested. Raids conducted on Friday and Saturday. Hundred and thirty-six girls have been rescued. Thirty-one were found at Imphal airport. Forty girls from those rescued are from Nepal. The girls were going to be taken to Arab ports. Prima facie it appears that the traffickers were running an international network.
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Human trafficking network in Moreh in Manipur has been busted by the police. Six traffickers have been arrested. Raids conducted on Friday and Saturday.
Hundred and thirty-six girls have been rescued. Thirty-one were found at Imphal airport. Forty girls from those rescued are from Nepal.
The girls were going to be taken to Arab ports. Prima facie it appears that the traffickers were running an international network.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) from 2018, almost 20,000 women and children were victims of human trafficking in India in 2016, a rise of nearly 25 per cent compared to 2015. India is home to the largest number of slaves globally, with 8 million, followed by China (3.86 million), Pakistan (3.19 million) and North Korea (2.64 million), a Reuters report said.
Statistics from the Ministry of Women and Child Development state that 19,223 women and children were trafficked in 2016 against 15,448 in 2015, with the highest number of victims being recorded in West Bengal.
In a bid to make stricter laws against trafficking, the Lok Sabha passed an anti-trafficking bill.
The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018, was introduced by Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi.
The bill was approved by the Cabinet in February 2018 and while it was hailed by many as a path breaking legislation, it had faced severe criticism from activists on the ground that it violated the rights of sex workers and threatened free speech and labour rights.
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Besides taking up prevention, rescue and rehabilitation, it covers aggravated forms of trafficking such as forced labour, begging and marriage.
In 2013, UN member states adopted a resolution designating July 30 as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons to raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.
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Published February 3rd, 2019 at 09:17 IST