In a significant breakthrough, police in Assam's Tinsukia district have apprehended the alleged mastermind behind a child trafficking network that specifically targeted vulnerable children from tea garden communities. The arrest on Wednesday marks the culmination of an intensive manhunt that began after several of his accomplices were recently captured.
The Mastermind Captured
Peter Sona, aged 44, was finally taken into custody from his hiding place in the Pengeri area of Tinsukia by a specialized police team operating from Philobari police station. The accused had been successfully evading law enforcement authorities since one of his associates was caught red-handed during an attempted abduction of a minor at Duarmara Singpho village.
According to official police statements, Sona is suspected of orchestrating at least half a dozen child trafficking cases. His criminal network specifically preyed on children from marginalized tea garden communities, trafficking them across district borders to neighboring Arunachal Pradesh.
Investigation Breakthrough and Previous Arrests
The case saw a major development when alert villagers apprehended one of the accused, Dipak Phukan, and promptly handed him over to the police. His subsequent interrogation led to the arrest of five additional individuals:
- Umakanta Chetri
- Boby Deori Sona
- Rohit Khadal
- Peter Sabashi
- Ajit Munda
Despite these successful arrests, the primary mastermind remained elusive until Wednesday's operation. Philobari OC Ajit Sonowal confirmed that "acting on specific information from our intelligence network, we tracked him down and arrested him from a hideout."
Modus Operandi and Community Impact
Investigations have revealed that Sona exploited his former association with the Assam Tea Tribe Students' Association (ATTSA) to manipulate and deceive vulnerable tea garden families. He used his past organizational affiliation to gain trust and lure children from Adivasi families under false pretenses.
Police sources indicate that the trafficked children were forced to work as domestic help in Arunachal Pradesh. The accused had been operating this trafficking racket for several years, systematically betraying the trust of poor Adivasi families who believed in his credentials.
In a significant development, police also seized a car that was allegedly used by the traffickers to transport children across districts, providing crucial evidence for the ongoing investigation.
Community Response and Condemnation
An ATTSA leader strongly condemned Sona's actions, stating that he had exploited his former position in the organization to commit heinous crimes against the very communities he once claimed to represent. The organization has demanded strict legal action against all involved in the trafficking network.
The arrest has brought some relief to the tea garden communities of Tinsukia district, who have been living in fear due to the recent spate of child trafficking incidents. Local authorities have assured continued vigilance and protection for vulnerable families in the region.
