Traffickers on the prowl : NGO/ The Sentinel

GUWAHATI, May 22: Trafficking of girls from different parts of the country to Haryana and Delhi has been reportedly increasing for the past few years and the maximum number of such girls are from Assam. This was revealed by Kamal Kumar Pandey, secretary of Shakti Vahini, a non Government organization based in Delhi, which has been pursuing the case of Kanika Das, a 16-year-old girl from Assam. Kanika was lured and taken to Rewari, Haryana in 2000 by a local woman Deepa Das from Keyajeni village of Kamrup District. Now Kanika is feared dead or sold.Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Pandey said that the NGO has submitted a letter to the Governor of Assam demanding for immediate registration of a FIR by the police and bring the case of Kanika to a conclusive end. It could be mentioned here that both the Assam Police and Haryana police refused to register any FIR and only "informal" investigation is on. Attempts to file FIRs were made both by the NGO as well as family members of Kanika Das. The case of Kanika has already been published in detail in The Sentinel. According to the NGO, four other girls from different villages under the Hajo Police Station and Tamulpur Police Station have been reported as brought to Haryana. They are, Mina Das, daughter of Narayan Das (missing), Pramila Das, daughter of Harakanta Das from Gerua village under Hajo Police Station, Vinita Das, daughter of Late Amrit Ch Das (missing since 1996) and Bimala Das, daughter of Dharani Basumatari from Gandhibari village under Tamulpur Police Station. It could be mentioned here that in all the cases, either Deepa Das or her family members are involved and all girls are minor (below 18). Deepa who was married to a man from Haryana has been acting as the mediator in all the above cases. Mr Pandey said that as per their enquiry, money is exchanged in almost all the cases by the mediator who enjoys a part of the fortune. The mother of Kanika was paid Rs 1500 for her daughter.When the NGO workers visited Hajo and Tamulpur area, one Muhiram Bodo said that everyday many dalals who are strangers to them, visit their village and offer money in return of girls. Guniram Mohan Das of Tamulpur area said, girls from Latibari and Gandhibari village have been taken away to Haryana or Delhi who never returned. The Communication manager of Shakti Vahini Mr Rishi Kant said that some cases of selling girls to brothels and call girl rackets have also been noticed.A two-member police team from Haryana accompanied the NGO workers in their investigation in Hajo and Tamulpur recently. The NGO has demanded that the State Government must take up a comprehensive and detailed study on the issue and to collect data and build up mechanism to check trafficking.
By a Staff Reporter