New Delhi: At a time when the entire machinery of the government is working against COVID-19 pandemic, human traffickers are on the prowl targeting women and girl children across the country. Aware of this fact, the Union Home Ministry also issued an advisory to states and UTs asking them to be vigilant against any such activities.
“Yes, the human traffickers are on the hunt for women and girl children following the fact that they could be forced into flesh trade,” said Rishi Kant, spokesperson of Shakti Bahini to ETV Bharat.
Shakti Bahini is a non-governmental organization working against human trafficking.
He said that states like Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Karnataka and Maharastra are prone to such human trafficking cases.
“Situation in Assam, West Bengal, Odisha have worsened following the fact that these three states apart from suffering due to Covid19 pandemic, recent cyclones have also created havoc in many places,” said Rishi Kant.
There are 138 child marriage cases took place in West Bengal during the last three months and registered with the state child commission.
“We anticipate that those girl children (many of them went outside the state) might be forcibly indulged into the flash trade. There could be more than thousands of missing cases of women and girl children who could also be forced into flesh trade,” said Rishi Kant.
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As per a United Nations report, COVID-19 measures may likely lead to an increase in cross-border trafficking and human smuggling. The report indicates that the global economic crisis; coupled with the long-lasting loss of employment for a large segment of people in many countries due to COVID-19 measures taken by governments may produce conditions ripe for trafficking.
The report particularly links stringent mobility regulations and the likelihood of an asymmetric recovery of different countries from the upcoming global economic crisis with a likely rise in human trafficking rates.
Rishi Kant said that many people have lost their jobs due to Covid19 pandemic in India. “Taking this advantage, the human traffickers could also lure people offering money, jobs and other facilities,” said Rishi Kant.
Referring to the advisory issued by the Home Ministry, Rishi Kant said that the advisory has asked the local authorities especially the village panchayats to be more vigilant on migrant labourers.
“The migrant labourers who have returned to their home state, in search of livelihood might fall in the hands of human traffickers,” said Rishi Kant.
Rishi Kant said that on some occasion, the victims also fall in the hands of international human traffickers.
It may be mentioned here that Azam Khan, a Bangladeshi human trafficker who was arrested by the law enforcing agencies in Dhaka on Monday has confessed that there are three major sex cartel racket run by his aides.
Also read: MHA asks states to set up more anti-human trafficking units amid COVID-19
“We appealed to the government that investigation of this case should be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA),” said Rishi Kant.
Joint interrogation of Azam Khan might reveal many more details of inter-country implications.
Significantly, NIA in May has arrested a Bangladeshi couple (Abdul Salam and Shivuli Khatoon) from Hyderabad who were involved in running brothels but also involved in cross border human trafficking.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data said that 38,503 cases of trafficking in India took place between 2011 and 2019.
