Lucknow: A joint team of the Anti-Human Trafficking (AHT) Unit and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) busted a child trafficking racket and arrested one of its members, rescuing four minors safely. The children were being trafficked for child labour and were being taken by train from Charbagh railway station to Gujarat via West Bengal.
According to ADCP Crime Kiran Yadav, the AHT and RPF teams had been receiving continuous inputs about an active gang involved in trafficking children to other states for labour. On Saturday, specific information was received that minors were being transported by train for child labour. Acting swiftly, the teams laid a trap at Charbagh railway station.
During a search of coach number S-06 of the Gandhidham Express, a suspicious person was apprehended. The arrested accused was identified as Saifuddin, a resident of Kharabari area of Raiganj in Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal. On checking his belongings, four children were recovered from his custody. All the rescued children are below 16–17 years of age.
During questioning, the children revealed that the accused was taking them to work at an Archit Plywood factory located in Ratnamani, Gujarat. Police immediately freed the minors and, on the orders of the Child Welfare Committee, shifted them to the Government Children’s Home (Boys) at Mohan Road for safe shelter.
ADCP Kiran Yadav said a case has been registered against the accused at the AHT police station. He was produced before the court and subsequently sent to jail. Further investigation is underway to trace and arrest other members of the trafficking gang.
