4 Bengalis, one Rohingya among 24 charges filed by NIA in Assam human trafficking case
NIA investigation revealed that international human trafficking syndicates were operating along the India-Bangladesh border, in Tripura, Assam, West Bengal and other areas.
Assam human trafficking case: In a crackdown on human trafficking syndicates, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday charged 24 persons involved in trafficking Bangladeshis and Rohingyas of Myanmar origin to India with forged Indian identity documents for carrying out anti-national activities. The NIA said those charged include four Bangladeshi nationals and one Rohingya of Myanmar origin.
The charge sheet was filed before the NIA Special Court, Assam (Guwahati) under various provisions of IPC, Foreigners Act and Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 read with Rule Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950.
The NIA initially arrested 29 persons in massive raids at 39 locations in Tripura, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal in coordination with the state police authorities and seized a large number of incriminating documents, forged Indian identity documents, bank documents and digital devices.
According to the investigation, Indian identity documents were obtained by Bangladeshi nationals in collaboration with local agencies on the basis of fake or forged supporting documents and certificates provided by local officials.
Subsequently, four more suspects from Tripura were arrested on the basis of investigation leads, taking the total number to 33.
The case was initially registered by the Assam Police under the Passport Act, 1967 against some anti-social elements following credible reports that the organized human trafficking syndicates were involved in smuggling Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas of Myanmar origin into India with forged documents for carrying out anti-social activities. Indian activities. It was subsequently taken over by the NIA and subsequently re-registered.
NIA investigation revealed that international human trafficking syndicates were operating along the India-Bangladesh border, in Tripura, Assam, West Bengal and other areas. These syndicates regularly trafficked Rohingyas and Bengalis and prepared forged Indian identity documents to settle them in different parts of the country.
The network also had links with facilitators and traffickers operating in other parts of the country and across the border, as part of a larger network engaged in human trafficking activities across the India-Bangladesh border.
Investigations further revealed that the syndicates on both sides of the border conspired and offered inducements to obtain the consent of those trafficked. According to the investigation results, the suspects would prepare forged Indian identity documents and also arrange bookings, accommodation, transportation and their onward travel to the hinterland.
The victims were allegedly exploited and their jobs were arranged for very small amounts in various unorganized sectors and they settled in different parts of India.
The trafficked girls and women were also allegedly exploited in various other ways through fraud and deceit, while some Rohingya women were also sold to older men for marriage.
(With ANI inputs)