Three persons have been arrested by Arunachal Pradesh police in connection with a suspected inter-district child trafficking and exploitation network, police said on Tuesday.
Police arrested Gumnya Kochung, Marta Ete and Neha Gerory for their alleged roles as facilitators or brokers. The children were then allegedly procured, transported and placed with people at distant locations. “There are suspected instances where some parents or guardians may also have received monetary consideration for handing over their children.
Namsai police rescued 19 children, most below eight years of age, the youngest reportedly around three, from Mechuka, Aalo, Pasighat, Naharlagun, Itanagar and Longding, as the investigation continues. “We have so far recovered 19 children from different locations across the state.
Police said some children were engaged as domestic help and in hotel work. The operation is still continuing and our teams are working to trace other children who may have been taken or placed under similar circumstances,” Dirchi said. Economically vulnerable families were allegedly approached by the facilitators with promises of better education, care and upbringing for their children, according to investigators. However, the circumstances and individual roles of every person involved are being independently investigated,” Dirchi said.
“A majority of the recovered children are below eight years of age.
During preliminary interaction, some of them could not even recall their parents’ names or basic details about their families,” said Namsai SDPO Kengo Dirchi, the investigating officer.
“The recovery of 19 children is not the end of the operation,” Dirchi said, adding that the investigation was continuing.
