Manipur police bust international human trafficking racket, rescue 3

Newmai News Network Imphal | August 11   Manipur Police claimed to have busted a major international human trafficking racket and rescued three girls, including two minors.   Thoubal district police arrested two persons, including a woman, in connection with the racket which police claimed spreads into neighbouring Myanmar, Thailand and Singapore.   Briefing media at the office of Superintendent of Police, Thoubal district, Additional SP Rakesh Balwan said a team of police established a check point on the basis of credible information on August 10 at Kakching Lamkhai of Thoubal and arrested—Thangkhumi, 56, hailing from Moreh Ward No-3 under Chandel district and Lalbiakliana, 50, a resident of Khawmawi village in Churachandpur district.   The two accused were paraded before the media.   The police officer said Lalbiakliana, the driver, along with the three girls and his accomplice Thangkhumi was travelling in a vehicle which was intercepted around 4 pm yesterday. The duo has been remanded to 10-day police custody for further investigation, ASP Balwan added.   Balwan said they were taking the girls to Moreh town along Indo-Myanmar border and the beyond. He said the police have registered a case at the Women Police Station against the two accused under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1985.

  The victim girls are between ages 14-20, he said. The ASP claimed there is involvement of a bigger gang in the racket, adding that most of the girls are from interior areas of the hill districts. “They brought the girls after paying Rs 5000 each to their families on the pretext of jobs in Singapore. The trafficking network also sends the girls to Bangkok where they are forced into immoral business, Balwan claimed.   The ASP urged upon all parents to stay away from such human traffickers involved in the international racket. He claimed many more people, including women, are involved in the network.