GUWAHATI, Dec 31: Delhi Police have dismantled a human trafficking ring smuggling young Bangladeshi women into India for forced prostitution, exposing a grim trade route passing through Assam and Meghalaya. This network was uncovered during the investigation of a murder case in New Delhi, which shed light on how traffickers exploit porous borders to transport victims to the capital.
Authorities arrested Animul Islam, a key figure in the operation, on Saturday evening. A resident of Krishnai in Assam’s Goalpara district, Islam allegedly used his vehicle to shuttle victims across the Meghalaya-Assam border.
The investigation revealed that four Bangladeshi women linked to the murder case were victims of this trafficking network. Police believe that the deceased and his accomplice, identified as Anis, were actively involved in supplying these women to Delhi’s sex trade.
This case highlights the persistent and growing threat of human trafficking in the region. Assam has historically been a hotspot for such activities, accounting for 22% of India’s trafficking cases in 2015. Factors like conflict and climate displacements exacerbate the problem. According to reports from 2018, an estimated 50,000 Bangladeshi women and children are trafficked into India annually, with many forced into urban brothels.
Experts stress the need for urgent measures to address trafficking through Assam and Meghalaya’s porous borders. They have called for enhanced surveillance, stricter enforcement, and increased regional collaboration to combat this grave issue effectively.
