NIA Cracks Down on International Human Trafficking Ring
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken decisive action against a human trafficking network by filing a chargesheet against ten individuals, including two women, in a special court in Bhubaneswar. This development comes in connection with the harrowing case of a 17-year-old girl from Bangladesh who was trafficked to Cuttack and forced into prostitution.
Rescue and Investigation Timeline
The minor victim was successfully rescued by the commissionerate police in Cuttack on November 9 last year. Initial police investigations uncovered that the teenager had been brought from Bangladesh to Odisha under the false pretense of employment opportunities. However, upon arrival, she was coerced into the sex trade against her will.
The case took a significant turn when the NIA took over the investigation from the Cuttack urban police district several months ago. The federal agency's probe revealed a well-organized trafficking network that exploited the girl's family financial difficulties to facilitate the crime.
Arrests and Key Suspects
While the Cuttack police had already arrested six persons, including two women, the NIA made crucial breakthroughs by apprehending two prime suspects. Amir Ali Shekh and Amal Krishna Mondal were arrested from West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on September 21 this year.
According to NIA sources, the chargesheet includes eight arrested individuals and two absconding accused. The fugitives have been identified as Veera Gujur Choudhary (55) from Rajasthan and Jasmine (36) from Keonjhar, who allegedly played pivotal roles in forcing the minor into prostitution.
The investigation uncovered that the victim was transported from Dhaka to Kolkata around August-September last year before being moved to Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Berhampur. She is currently under protection at a shelter home in Odisha.
International Connections and Financial Trail
The NIA's probe has identified a couple based in Bangladesh as key operatives in the trafficking network. Investigators traced online financial transactions between Amal, Amir, and this Bangladeshi couple, which helped establish the international links of the racket.
Amir was additionally involved in foreign currency exchange operations. During the arrest of the duo, authorities seized substantial amounts of Indian, Bangladeshi, and other foreign currencies along with incriminating documents that provided crucial evidence against the accused.
The case highlights the ongoing challenge of cross-border human trafficking and the sophisticated methods employed by trafficking networks. The NIA's intervention demonstrates the agency's commitment to combating organized crime that exploits vulnerable individuals across international borders.
