Agartala: In a major crackdown on human trafficking, an Indian tout and four Bangladeshi women were arrested at Agartala railway station on 25th June night. This incident underscores the ongoing issue of illegal entry and human trafficking across the India-Bangladesh border.
Despite the heavy surveillance and efforts by the Border Security Force (BSF) and the police intelligence wing, brokers from both India and Bangladesh frequently facilitate the illegal entry of Bangladeshi nationals. These individuals often evade capture and help transport Bangladeshi citizens into India, where they travel to various parts by rail using forged documents. Many are intercepted only at the final stages of their journey.
Sources indicate that human traffickers offer household jobs to Bangladeshi women intruders In big cities of India, subsequently transporting them illegally into India. Once in the country, these women are often sold into illicit activities or forced into antisocial activities.
On June 25, the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Agartala railway station arrested an Indian tout, identified as Mohammed Kasem Miah, and four Bangladeshi women: Mim Sultana, Rubaya Sultana, Ritu Begum, and Jyoti Khatun. Tapas Das, the Officer-in-Charge of Agartala GRP police station, stated, “Out of the four arrested women, two were on their way to Pune and the other two to Ahmedabad. Mohammed Kasem Miah, whose residence is in Sepahijala district, was aiding these women in their illegal journey into and out of the state of Tripura.”
A case has been registered against the arrested individuals at Agartala GRP police station, and they were presented in court on Wednesday. This arrest highlights the persistent activities of human trafficking rings in the state, an issue that authorities are finding challenging to control.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently has already filed a charge sheet against 8 notorious human traffickers from Assam and Tripura, yet the human trafficking network remains active.
Earlier on June 22, 2024, nine Bangladeshi nationals including six women were arrested at Agartala Railway Station for illegally entering India from Bangladesh. A specific case has been registered against them, highlighting the ongoing issue of unauthorised cross-border movement and the efforts by authorities to curb illegal entry.
