Railway Police Prepare Major Crackdown on Fake ID Network Enabling Child Trafficking
In a significant development, railway police in Ranchi are gearing up to launch a focused operation aimed at dismantling an extensive network allegedly producing forged identity documents. This criminal operation enables traffickers to transport minor children out of Jharkhand by presenting them as adults using counterfeit Aadhaar cards and other falsified papers.
Weekly Trafficking Cases Uncovered Through Rail Routes
Director General (Railways) Anil Palta revealed that the department works in close coordination with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Childline to rescue children being trafficked through railway networks. "On average, we detect at least one case every week in which minors are being trafficked using fake Aadhaar cards to portray them as adults," Palta stated emphatically.
The verification process has become crucial in these operations. Whenever a minor is rescued, officers immediately verify the Aadhaar details through the official UIDAI portal. In most instances, these cards are found to be completely counterfeit. "Aadhaar is not proof of age," Palta clarified. "After rescue, we trace school certificates wherever available. If no documentary proof exists, we conduct a medical examination to determine the child's age."
Organized Crime with Interstate Financial Networks
Palta emphasized that trafficking represents organized crime with sophisticated financial networks. "We know funds are routed to traffickers from destination states. We are now investigating the source of these fake identity documents," he explained. Breaking this forgery racket would significantly weaken trafficking operations across the region.
According to official data, railway police achieved notable success in 2025, rescuing 130 minors and arresting 44 traffickers. In January of this year alone, 14 minors have been rescued and two traffickers apprehended, indicating the ongoing scale of the problem.
Key Destination States for Trafficked Children
Palta identified several key destination states where trafficked children are taken via rail routes:
- Goa, where children work as masons
- Maharashtra and Karnataka, where they labor in banana plantations
- Tamil Nadu, where they work in garment factories
- Chhattisgarh, where they toil at construction sites
- Haryana, where they work in roadside eateries
Recent Case Reveals Sophisticated Forgery Operations
In a particularly concerning recent case, railway police uncovered a separate scam involving young girls trafficked to Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu using forged job offer letters. "The traffickers produced appointment letters purportedly issued by an apparel company," Palta revealed. "However, the company has since confirmed that the letters were completely fake. We are working to trace the origin of these documents as well."
Activist Calls for Technological Solutions
Baidnath Kumar, a Jharkhand-based anti-trafficking activist, confirmed that the use of forged Aadhaar cards has become widespread in trafficking operations. "Recently, several children from Jharkhand were rescued from the Vasco Da Gama Express, all carrying fake Aadhaar cards. This is a recurring pattern," Kumar stated.
Kumar proposed a technological solution to enhance rescue efforts: "If RPF and railway police personnel are equipped with verification devices or mobile applications to check IDs instantly when suspicious cases arise, it would significantly enhance our ability to intercept traffickers and rescue children before they disappear into destination states."
The upcoming operation represents a critical step in addressing what authorities describe as a sophisticated criminal network exploiting vulnerable children through document forgery and interstate transportation systems.
