Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh Police successfully rescued two minor girls, aged 15 and 17, who were trafficked to Raipur, Chhattisgarh, under the pretense of job opportunities offered via social media.
The operation, carried out by Siang district police, led to the arrest of a man from Dimapur, Nagaland, who had been working as a cook in Raipur.
The investigation began after a complaint was filed on June 10 by the father of one of the girls, reporting his 15-year-old daughter missing.
A subsequent missing person report escalated into a trafficking case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Siang district was immediately alerted, according to Siang Superintendent of Police (SP) JK Lego.
Through technical surveillance, the girls were traced to Raipur.
With assistance from local authorities at Vidhan Sabha police station, they were safely rescued and temporarily housed at a government shelter, Sakhi Saheli, for their protection.
A police team, led by Sub-Inspector Tanu Padung, travelled to Raipur to secure custody of the girls and obtain a transit remand for the accused.
Upon their return to Boleng on June 20, the victims underwent medical examinations and were handed over to the CWC for counselling and rehabilitation.
Initial investigations revealed that the accused had used social media to lure the girls with fake employment promises and arranged for their travel from Boleng to Raipur.
Authorities are now probing potential connections to a larger trafficking network, examining digital devices and financial transactions to identify additional accomplices.
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The rescue operation was supervised by SP JK Lego, with key support from Deputy Superintendent of Police Sange Tenzin and DSP (Law & Order) Togum Gongo.
Officers from Boleng police station, along with a lady constable, played critical roles in the operation.
The Siang police have urged parents to remain vigilant about their children’s online interactions and warned of the risks posed by trafficking networks exploiting social media platforms.
Investigations are ongoing to uncover further details about the case.
