On Tuesday, a special programme on human trafficking under Kolkata Police’s sensitisation programme Chetana, was held at the auditorium of the Alipore Bodyguard Line.
“How to report about a trafficking incident,” asked a girl at a sensitisation programme attended by around 300 girl students from 62 schools in and around Kolkata. A senior police officer advised the young audience to be watchful at all times. “It is very important to closely monitor your friends and their surroundings. Who they are making friends with, are they missing school for weeks? In such cases, you must report the incident to the authorities,” he said at a special programme on human trafficking held under Kolkata Police’s sensitisation programme Chetana at the auditorium of the Alipore Bodyguard Line.
“I thought such incidents of trafficking happen in rural areas. But after today’s seminar, I realised that I am as vulnerable as any other girl in the country. I will take appropriate precautions about it,” said a participating student from a school in south Kolkata.
A Bengali comic book on trafficking, ‘Proti Poribarer Guriya’, was released on the occasion
Kolkata Police have been fighting several social evils like drug abuse and trafficking through Chetana.
The event began with inspector Sonali Dey’s narration of her experience in battling human trafficking. “In many cases, we have seen that danger comes from the known circle(s). People who gain the girl’s trust – it may be her relative or a family friend – betray them,” Dey said.
A Bengali comic book on trafficking, Proti Poribarer Guriya, was released on the occasion. “The book is about the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act). It has been presented in a manner so that children and the aged can relate easily,” said a senior police officer.
Participants at the human trafficking sensitisation programme
Journalist Anwesha Banerjee spoke about crucial issues related to human trafficking. “Human traffickers use several ways like romance, false job advertisements, the promise of a better life and even false travel opportunities to lure children,” she explained through slides.
A panel comprising social activist Saradindu Bannerjee, advocate Tapas Paul, Alok Maji from Kolkata Police cyber cell and inspector Tandrima Gupta spoke about trafficking.
“At present, especially after the pandemic, social media is widely used for trafficking. Criminals make friends on this platform and when a girl or a boy tries to meet that person in real life, they fall prey, hence it is of utmost importance to be cautious while operating on social media,” said Maji. Inspector Gupta pointed out the changing social and cultural equations for human trafficking.
Among the senior police officers present at the programme were Shankha Shubhra Chakrabarty, joint CP (crime), Nilanjan Biswas, joint CP (armed police) and Kunwar Bhusan Singh, DC (combat battalion).