Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh: Police have rescued 19 children, including a child believed to be around three years old, in a trafficking case that has exposed a suspected network operating across multiple districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Three people have been arrested in connection with the case.
The accused have been identified as Gumnya Kochung, Marte Ete and Neha Gerory. The rescue operation began after a complaint was filed by the Namsai Child Welfare Committee (CWC), following which a case was registered on August 17.
According to police, the children were rescued from several places, including Mechuka, Aalo, Pasighat, Naharlagun, Itanagar and Longding. Superintendent of Police Sangey Thinley said most of the rescued children are below eight years of age.
Police said the investigation has revealed monetary transactions ranging from about ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 per child in some cases. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has now been formed to carry out a deeper probe.
Officials believe some of the rescued children were made to work as domestic help or in hotels. An activist working in child rescue and rehabilitation said traffickers often exploit families from economically weaker sections, especially in areas where there is demand for domestic workers and labourers.
The activist added that middlemen connected to trafficking networks target vulnerable families and take children away for work, often without them returning home. In many such cases, missing complaints are later filed, but the children remain untraced for long periods.
The case has once again raised concern over child trafficking in the region. According to the National Crime Records Bureau’s Crime in India 2024 report, Arunachal Pradesh recorded eight human trafficking cases last year involving 66 identified victims. The report said all 66 victims were trafficked for sexual exploitation.
Police arrested 52 people in trafficking related cases, but no convictions were reported. The state also recorded the rescue of 38 victims.
The latest rescue operation is being seen as a major breakthrough, but officials say the investigation is still underway and more arrests are possible.
