GUWAHATI: Around 10 women are abducted in Assam on a daily basis, and most of them become victims of trafficking. Poverty, unemployment and improper implementation of schemes are some of the main reasons behind women falling prey to human trafficking rackets.
Figures available with the state police reveal the increasing rate of kidnapping of women in Assam over the years. As per records, about 2,740 women have been kidnapped in Assam since January 2013, with the monthly figure being at least 304.
Though the records did not specify the number of cases registered under the human trafficking category, police said more than 60 per cent cases were linked to trafficking. "Human trafficking is a major concern for Assam Police. Minors and women are being trafficked to other parts of the country from here. Racketeers take advantage of the huge rate of unemployment and lure these minors and women to other parts of the country with promises of good jobs," said Assam Police chief J N Choudhury.
The areas most vulnerable to trafficking are Nagaon, Morigaon, Baksa, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, bordering areas of Hailakandi and Karimganj districts, particularly along the Mizoram and Bangladesh borders. Women and children from the state are trafficked mostly to Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat for sexual exploitation, labour and forced marriage.
"Fake recruitment agencies are very active in the region. Recently, a girl who hails from Jorhat was rescued from Malaysia. She was sold to a nightclub in Kuala Lumpur. Some travel agents operating in the guise of NGOs are also in the loop," said a CID official.
Assam Police have 14 anti-human trafficking units to deal with the growing menace. However, with shortage of manpower, these units are struggling. As per the National Crime Records Bureau report for 2012, at least 3,360 cases of kidnapping of women were recorded in Assam, with two cases registered under the 'Importation of Girls from Foreign Country Section of IPC'.
