Human trafficking has become a severe problem in India. Women from the poorer states get transported to the cities and metropolis and then they are either sold or forced to practice prostitution. India is a land of diversity and the crime of trafficking, like many other crimes, has its roots in political, financial and social problems that cannot be easily eradicated. On 15June, the Jharkhand police got information about a human trafficking racket that was taking some 20 girls to Delhi via train. Their timely action has saved the lives of the young and minor girls from a despicable life ahead.
On Saturday night the train was stopped at Ghaziabad railway station and then some of the girls were asked to step down for interrogation by the police. Three of the human traffickers were taken into custody. They had boarded the for going to Delhi. In this incident what surprises us is that how openly such activities are taking place, without us knowing or understanding. Trafficking of women has become such a commonplace incident that it even fails to shock us. Human mind is very forgetful and we can barely remember incidents where one or more women were humiliated and injured or even killed in a violent manner.
Presently interrogation is going on and the police are trying to find out more relevant information so that more girls and women can be saved. Child Welfare Committee has given shelter to the underage girls. The older girls have been permitted to go where they please. Herein lays the problem because many girls and women have no place to return after they have been rescued from human traffic goons. In many cases it is their family members who have sold them and they won’t take them back. Women in India are financially and socially vulnerable and many of them are dependant for their keeping on others. This is the reason why crime against women cannot be controlled easily.
Kanpur Childline, which supplied the information about the trafficking, and SSP Nitin Tiwari and his team has done a good job. A NGO named Ashadeep Foundation helped the police in their mission. Surprisingly in this case the girls have not stepped forward to lodge a complaint or accused anyone. They have repeatedly told the police that they were going to meet their relatives in Delhi and they have crossed 20. It was found from their ID proofs that many of them were younger. The police are investigating the matter thoroughly.
