Active human intelligence network has helped Simdega police in Jharkhand to set a landmark in terms of rescuing 100 minor girls, women and boys from human traffickers in a span of only 16 months.

“Since assuming charge in the last 16 months I have constantly directed my officials to develop human links through better policing so that people come forward to share information with police. This has yielded result as we are getting information from auto-rickshaws operators, bus operators and even cab operators from remote areas and foiling human trafficking bid at the district itself,” said superintendent of police Simdega Shams Tabrez.

A total of 22 human trafficking cases have been detected and 37 human traffickers nabbed and sent to jail.

“Majority of the 100 rescued comprise minor girls and over 75 per cent were taken to Delhi while others were taken to Chandigarh and in cities of Haryana and Punjab. The girls are lured with good money and job to big cities by people from their own villages who are working in big cities. The two persons whom we have arrested on Friday were working in Haryana and have confessed that an agent in Delhi had promised payment of Rs 40,000 for each girl. The parents of these girls are duped thinking that their girls will earn a good income but they are made to work either as domestic servants or flesh trade,” said Tabrez.

The Simdega police have alerted all 15 police stations in the district along with its anti-human trafficking unit (AHTU) to maintain extreme confidentiality and show alertness to any information about human trafficking.

“The local police station officials and staff have been asked to issue appeals during their routine patrolling in remotest of areas to masses to inform police anytime about any woman or man being trafficked. Once the villagers have confidence in police they start informing about such activities which helps in nabbing the culprits,” said Tabrez.

On Friday, the AHTU police of Simdega rescued five girls including three minors who were being lured by two traffickers to Delhi and taken to Ranchi.

“All the girls were from Pakartan village of Kolebira police station area of Simdega and were being taken to Delhi and the AHTU caught them at the bus terminus while they were being taken on a bus to Ranchi for catching train to Delhi.

The two accused who have been nabbed are Binod Kerketta, 30, a native of the same village and Nuvela Soreng alias Pooja (also of the same village). The rescued girls comprise three minors aged 14, 16 and 17 years and two adults (both 18 years) and have been kept at the women shelter home for medical tests and for taking their statements. Police also recovered e-tickets from each of the girls.